Student Question
Which of the following is not a Chinese food: A) Peking Duck, B) Sweet and Sour Pork, C) Laksa, D) Spring Rolls?
Quick answer:
The dish that is not traditionally Chinese is Laksa. While Peking Duck and Sweet and Sour Pork are quintessentially Chinese, and Spring Rolls originated in China despite their variations across East Asia, Laksa is primarily a Malaysian dish. It has roots with ethnic Chinese communities in Malaysia, making it less associated with traditional Chinese cuisine compared to the other options.
One can at least argue that all of these are Chinese foods. However, if you have to say that one of these is not a Chinese food, the best answer is Laksa.
Both Peking Duck and Sweet and Sour Pork are clearly Chinese foods. Peking Duck is seen as a symbol of China and a national food. Sweet and Sour Pork is very popular in the cuisine of the Canton area of southern China. Thus, these cannot be the correct answer.
Spring rolls are not exclusively Chinese. Variations on spring rolls are eaten all over East Asia. However, they are said to have originated in China.
Laksa is a dish that is not common in China itself. Instead, it is more of a Malaysian dish. However, it has its origins with ethnic Chinese people living in Malaysia. Thus, while Laksa is arguably a Chinese dish, it is the best answer to this question.
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