Chinese cuisine has a very long history. The history of Chinese cuisine can be traced back from 1500 B.C. The long history of Chinese cuisine resulted to its predominance in other cuisine all over the world. The migration of Chinese people to different countries around the world caused the spread of Chinese cuisine to other countries. Many Chinese foods became popular and were adopted and mixed up with the cuisines of other countries. One of the most popular Chinese cuisines is the Yang Chow fried rice.
Yang Chow fried rice is one of the most important part of Chinese cuisine. It is one of the most widespread cuisine from China, all restaurants all over the world that serve Asian cuisine surely have this dish on their menus. In some western countries like United States of America, this rice dish is becoming a very popular fast food.
Based on historical accounts, an earlier version of Chinese fried rice already exists in as early as 4000 B.C. However, the original fried rice recipe was invented during the Sui dynasty (589 – 618 A.D.). It originated from the city of Yangzhou in the eastern province of Jiangsu. During this time the original recipe of Yang Chow were born. The original recipe is consists of tidbits of rice, roasted pork, young onions, peas and prawns. The original recipe spread in Southeast Asia because of the nomads who came from Yangzhou province in China.
The rice dish originated from peasants in the agricultural province of Yangzhou. Peasants use their leftover rice to prepare Yang Chow. The small bits of meat and vegetables mixed with fried rice show that during the old times the dish was being eaten by poor Chinese families only. Peasants during those times do not have enough money to buy big chunks of meat, that is why they cook the rice to be able to eat meat even in small amount together with rice and some vegetables. During those times Yang Chow was regarded as peasant food and was not served in any feast and meals of rich people.
Today Yang Chow fried rice is being served in all Chinese restaurants all over the world. It is also served in some restaurants that offer Asian cuisines. There are many variants of Yang Chow fried rice today. In western countries it is composed of leftover rice, egg, small amount of roasted or fried meat, soy sauce and small amount of vegetables. There are also some other Chinese variants, such as Yuan yang fried rice (has white and red sauce) and Fukien fried rice (has shrimp and grilled marinated pork). In America, Yang Chow is now popularly known as rice in a box, many Americans eat it as a fast food because it is easy to prepare and can be eaten anywhere.
