The main cooking methods in Hunan cuisine are simmering, stewing, steaming, stir-frying, and curing. Special techniques like using chopped peppers, smoking, and quick stir-frying help keep the ingredients’ natural flavors while adding spiciness.
Hunan cuisine is known for its fragrant, spicy, sour, and fresh flavors, focusing on color, aroma, and taste. Ingredients like chili peppers, bacon, and fermented black beans are used to create strong and exciting flavors.