Siu mei
Encyclopedia
Siu mei is the generic name, in Cantonese cuisine
, given to meats roasted on spits over an open fire or a huge wood burning rotisserie
oven. It creates a unique, deep barbecue
flavor that is usually enhanced by a flavorful sauce (a different sauce is used for each meat). Shops selling these meats are commonly found in Chinese-speaking
regions in East
and Southeast Asia
. It is popular in Hong Kong and 66,000 tons are consumed a year.
as siu mei takes a great deal of resources to prepare, and few families in Hong Kong
or China
have the equipment for it. It is also a staple item in typical Cantonese restaurants. Shops generally have large oven
s and rotisserie-like utilities for rotating the meat. Families order or prepare their own plain white rice
to accompany the siu mei. A siu mei meal usually consists of one box comprising half meat and half rice. Certain dishes, such as orange cuttlefish
, or white cut chicken
, are not roasted at all, but are often prepared and sold alongside BBQ roasted meats in siu mei establishments, hence they are generally classified as siu mei dishes.
Although siu mei originated in Cantonese cuisine, several siu mei dishes are readily available in overseas Chinatown
communities, and even in American Chinese cuisine
.
Cantonese cuisine
Cantonese cuisine comes from Guangdong Province in southern China and is one of 8 superdivisions of Chinese cuisine. Its prominence outside China is due to the great numbers of early emigrants from Guangdong. Cantonese chefs are highly sought after throughout the country...
, given to meats roasted on spits over an open fire or a huge wood burning rotisserie
Rotisserie
Rotisserie is a style of roasting where meat is skewered on a spit - a long solid rod used to hold food while it is being cooked over a fire in a fireplace or over a campfire, or roasted in an oven. This method is generally used for cooking large joints of meat or entire animals, such as pigs,...
oven. It creates a unique, deep barbecue
Barbecue
Barbecue or barbeque , used chiefly in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia is a method and apparatus for cooking meat, poultry and occasionally fish with the heat and hot smoke of a fire, smoking wood, or hot coals of...
flavor that is usually enhanced by a flavorful sauce (a different sauce is used for each meat). Shops selling these meats are commonly found in Chinese-speaking
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
regions in East
East Asia
East Asia or Eastern Asia is a subregion of Asia that can be defined in either geographical or cultural terms...
and Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
. It is popular in Hong Kong and 66,000 tons are consumed a year.
Preparation
Usually meat of this type is purchased as take-outTake-out
Take-out or takeout , carry-out , take-away , parcel , or tapau , is food purchased at a...
as siu mei takes a great deal of resources to prepare, and few families in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
or China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
have the equipment for it. It is also a staple item in typical Cantonese restaurants. Shops generally have large oven
Oven
An oven is a thermally insulated chamber used for the heating, baking or drying of a substance. It is most commonly used for cooking. Kilns, and furnaces are special-purpose ovens...
s and rotisserie-like utilities for rotating the meat. Families order or prepare their own plain white rice
White rice
White rice is the name given to milled rice that has had its husk, bran, and germ removed. This alters the flavour, texture and appearance of the rice and helps prevent spoilage and extend its storage life. After milling, the rice is polished, resulting in a seed with a bright, white, shiny...
to accompany the siu mei. A siu mei meal usually consists of one box comprising half meat and half rice. Certain dishes, such as orange cuttlefish
Orange cuttlefish
Orange cuttlefish or Orange squid is the most common English name used for the cuttlefish dish within Cantonese cuisine. It is one of the siu mei dishes, though it is not quite roasted...
, or white cut chicken
White cut chicken
White cut chicken or white sliced chicken is a variety of siu mei, or roasted meat dishes, within Cantonese cuisine. Unlike most other meats in the siu mei category, this particular dish is not roasted.-Preparation:...
, are not roasted at all, but are often prepared and sold alongside BBQ roasted meats in siu mei establishments, hence they are generally classified as siu mei dishes.
Adaptation
Chinatown
A Chinatown is an ethnic enclave of overseas Chinese people, although it is often generalized to include various Southeast Asian people. Chinatowns exist throughout the world, including East Asia, Southeast Asia, the Americas, Australasia, and Europe. Binondo's Chinatown located in Manila,...
communities, and even in American Chinese cuisine
American Chinese cuisine
American Chinese cuisine refers to the style of food served by many Chinese restaurants in the United States. This type of cooking typically caters to Western tastes, and differs significantly from the original Chinese cuisine.-History:...
.
Varieties
- Cha siu (叉烧) - barbecued pork
- Siu ngo (燒鵝) - roasted goose
- Siu ngaapDuck (food)Duck refers to the meat of several species of bird in the Anatidae family, found in both fresh and salt water. Duck is eaten in many cuisines around the world.-Types of ducks:The most common duck meat consumed in the United States is the Pekin duck...
(燒鴨) - roasted duck - White cut chickenWhite cut chickenWhite cut chicken or white sliced chicken is a variety of siu mei, or roasted meat dishes, within Cantonese cuisine. Unlike most other meats in the siu mei category, this particular dish is not roasted.-Preparation:...
(白切雞) - marinated steamed chicken - Siu yuk (燒肉) - roasted pig, with crispy skin
- Orange cuttlefishOrange cuttlefishOrange cuttlefish or Orange squid is the most common English name used for the cuttlefish dish within Cantonese cuisine. It is one of the siu mei dishes, though it is not quite roasted...
(鹵水墨魚) - marinated cuttlefish