Editing Hunan cuisine (section)

== Features ==
[[File:Changsha rice noodles (20160324062840).jpg|left|thumb|204x204px|A bowl of Changsha rice noodles]]
With its liberal use of [[chili pepper]]s, [[shallot]]s and [[garlic]], Hunan cuisine is known for being ''gan la'' ({{zh|c=干辣|p=gān là|l=dry and spicy|labels=no}})<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=B |first=Ivan |date=2019-07-28 |title=China Spice Wars: Sichuan Cuisine vs. Hunan Cuisine |url=http://countryandahalf.com/china-spice-wars-sichuan-cuisine-vs-hunan-cuisine/ |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=Country and a Half |language=en-US}}</ref> or purely hot, as opposed to [[Sichuan cuisine]], to which it is often compared.<ref name="Serious" /> Sichuan cuisine uses its distinctive ''[[Sichuan mala|ma la]]'' ({{zh|c=麻辣|p=má là|l=spicy and numbing|labels=no}})<ref name=":1" /> seasoning and other complex flavour combinations, frequently employs [[Sichuan pepper]]<ref name="Serious" /> along with chilies which are often dried. It also utilises more dried or preserved ingredients and condiments. Hunan cuisine, on the other hand, is often spicier by pure chili content and contains a larger variety of fresh ingredients. Both Hunan and Sichuan cuisine are perhaps significantly oilier than the other cuisines in China, but Sichuan dishes are generally oilier than Hunan dishes.<ref name=":1" /> Another characteristic distinguishing Hunan cuisine from Sichuan cuisine is that Hunan cuisine uses smoked and cured goods in its dishes much more frequently.<ref name=":0" />
 
Hunan cuisine's menu changes with the seasons. In a hot and humid summer, a meal will usually start with cold dishes or a platter holding a selection of cold meats with chilies for opening the pores and keeping cool in the summer. In winter, a popular choice is [[hot pot]], thought to heat the blood in the cold months. A special hot pot called ''yuanyang huoguo'' ({{zh|s=鸳鸯火锅|t=鴛鴦火鍋|p=yuānyāng hǔogūo|l=[[Mandarin duck#Chinese culture|Mandarin ducks]] hot pot|labels=no}}) is notable for splitting the pot into a spicy and a mild side.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-12-09 |title=Hunan cuisine {{!}} China & Asia Cultural Travel |url=https://www.asiaculturaltravel.co.uk/hunan-cuisine/ |access-date=2024-03-13 |language=en-US}}</ref> One of the classic dishes in Hunan cuisine served in restaurants and at home is farmer pepper fried pork. It is made with several common ingredients: pork belly, green pepper, [[douchi|fermented black beans]] and other spices.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Guo |first=Wei |date=2021-02-26 |title=Hunan Pork Stir-fry (湖南小炒肉) |url=https://redhousespice.com/hunan-pork/ |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=Red House Spice |language=en-US}}</ref>