Asian food (cuisine) includes several major regional cuisines: Central Asian, East Asian, North Asian, South Asian, Southeast Asian, and West Asian. A cuisine is a characteristic style of cooking practices and traditions, usually associated with a specific culture. Asia, being the largest and most populous continent, is home to many cultures, many of which have their own characteristic cuisine.
Ingredients common to many cultures in the East and Southeast regions of the continent include rice, ginger, garlic, sesame seeds, chilies, dried onions, soy, and tofu. Stir-frying, steaming, and deep frying are common cooking methods.
While rice is common to most Asian cuisines, different varieties are popular in various regions. Basmati rice is popular in the Indian subcontinent, Jasmine rice is often found across Southeast Asia, while long-grain rice is popular in China and short-grain in Japan and Korea.