Shanxi cuisine

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Shanxi cuisine
Chinese 山西菜

Shanxi cuisine, or Jin cuisine, is derived from the native cooking styles of Shanxi Province in China. It is famous for noodles, fried flatbread (da bing) and sour tastes. The cuisine is also famed for using its locally produced vinegar, just like in Huaiyang cuisine, but the flavour is totally different.

Contents

Generally speaking, Shanxi cuisine is not well known to people outside the region. This is partially because Shanxi is less populated than other provinces in China. Being a very traditional region where the lifestyle of locals has not been disturbed, many outsiders find Shanxi cuisine too authentic and traditional.

While pork and chicken are common in Shanxi, one of the most popular meat sources is lamb. Goat, and sheep offal is also often used. For example, lamb soup is usually cooked with livers, stomach and other offal. As a traditional area with strong cultural connections to Northwest Asian nomadic nations and minorities, the use of lamb in Shanxi cuisine presents a unique fusion of the culinary traditions of Northern Chinese minorities and Han Chinese. For example, using ground lamb and carrots as a dumpling filling, is something that is not found in any other Chinese cooking styles. Ground pork with chopped dill is another popular dumpling filling.

The main staples reflect the crops commonly grown in Shanxi: millet, sorghum, and wheat. Pork, mushrooms, potatoes and turnips are frequently used in dishes.

Styles

Shanxi cuisine comprises three styles:

Shanxi mature vinegar

Shanxi mature vinegar, also called Shanxi lao chencu (山西老陈醋; 山西老陳醋; Shānxī lǎo chén cù) in Chinese, is a special type of vinegar produced in Shanxi Province. Based on the techniques used to prepare the vinegar, it should be more accurately called "aged Shanxi vinegar" or "extra aged vinegar".

Shanxi old vinegar is one of the four famous vinegars in China, which has a history of more than 3,000 years and has the reputation of "the best vinegar in the world". The longer the vinegar is stored, the more fragrant and tasty it is. It's called Old Chen vinegar because it was born thousands of years ago and has been inherited until today while maintaining the basic technology and with the continuous improvement of brewing technology. [1] Shanxi old vinegar can be kept for 9–12 months in general, and some better vinegars can be kept for at least 3–10 years. [2] Some of the methods used in brewing the vinegar have been considered intellectual properties and are under the protection of Chinese laws. [3]

It is a famous product of the region, and is produced primarily in Qingxu County, a vicinity of the provincial capital of Taiyuan. The Shanxi Vinegar Culture Museum has been built there. [4] [5] Local Taiyuan residents, especially those who have lived there for generations, prefer Donghu Mature Vinegar (东湖老陈醋; 東湖老陳醋; donghu) produced by Shanxi Mature Vinegar Group, which is the largest mature vinegar manufacturer in China. [6] There is also Ninghuafu Yiyuanqing (宁化府益源庆; 寧化府益源慶; Nínghuàfǔ Yìyuánqìng), a brand of vinegar produced by the Yiyuanqing Company in the old downtown area of Taiyuan.

In the United States, some Asian grocery stores sell Shanxi mature vinegar. The common suppliers are Shanxi Mature Vinegar Group, [7] a China Time-Honored Brand company since 1368, [8] and Shuita Brand (水塔牌; Shuǐtǎ pái), a brewing company located in Qingxu County.

Notable dishes

EnglishTraditional ChineseSimplified ChinesePinyinImageNotes
Cat's ear貓耳朵猫耳朵māo ěrduō Maoerduo.JPG Noodles shaped like a cat's ears. Similar to orecchiette.
Youmian kaolaolao莜面栲栳栳莜面栲栳栳Yóu miàn kàolaolao
Oat noodle rolls served in Beijing (20170406174236).jpg
Oat flour rolls shaped like biscuit rolls
Fu Shan brains傅山頭腦傅山头脑Fù Shān tóunǎo FuShanTouNao.jpg A soup made from lamb, rice wine, yam and other spices. Despite its name, it has nothing to do with brains. It is named after Fu Shan (傅山; 1607–1684), a scholar and artist from Taiyuan. It is traditionally enjoyed during winter and is said to be nutritious.
Datong knife-shaved noodles 大同刀削麵大同刀削面Dàtóng dāo xiāo miàn Datong Fideos.jpg Willow-leaf-shaped noodle made by sharp sheet iron.
Liangpi 涼皮凉皮liáng pí Yi Zhong Mian Pi .jpg Cold rice noodle with spicy chili oil. Also called 面皮 (miàn pí), which is made translucent by washing out the gluten prior to cooking.
Minbagu抿八股抿八股mǐn bā gǔ
Pingyao beef平遙牛肉平遥牛肉Píngyáo niúròuBeef specially produced in Pingyao County
Shanxi crispy duck山西香酥鴨山西香酥鸭Shānxī xiāng sū yāThe duck is steamed first and then pan-fried. This creates a crispy and rich taste without making the duck meat too greasy.
Soy cheese steamed porkPork is stir -fried first, then steamed in a big bowl together with red salty soy cheese curd (similar to the one used in Beijing cuisine), ginger and garlic. When done, the pork has a creamy, soft, lightly sweet and richly savoury taste from the soy cheese and pork fat. The pork is thinly sliced and served with fresh herbs. [9]
Sweet and sour meatballs糖醋丸子糖醋丸子táng cù wánzǐ
Taigu cake太谷餅太谷饼Tàigǔ bǐng Taigubing.JPG A type of pastry from Taigu County
Huamo 花饃花馍huāmóA type of decorated, specially shaped mantou.
Braised String Bean with noodles (menmian)燜面焖面mēn mìan
Shanxi Braised String Beans with noodles Braised noodles.pdf
Shanxi Braised String Beans with noodles
The area north of Jinzhong, including the area to the north, is called stewed noodles. By stewing the noodles and stir-frying them with the vegetables you want to eat.
Shanxi Chow Mein炒麵炒面(炒揪片)Pull the noodles into slices and then stir-fry them with vegetables.
Shanxi Oil Tea油茶油茶Shanxi oil tea includes flour, walnuts, peanuts, Xinjiang padamones, cooked sesame seeds, and olive oil. It is a traditional snack in Jinzhong, Shanxi. [10]
Liulin Wantuan柳林碗團柳林碗团liǔ lín wǎn tuán
Shanxi Wantuan.jpg
Liulin Wantuan is made of buckwheat noodles, steamed in a small bowl and then seasoned with garlic, chili and vinegar as the main ingredients.

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References

  1. punkoranje (2020-11-19). "Why is the "old vinegar" from Shanxi, China different?". Panda!Yoo. Retrieved 2022-04-19.
  2. "Rice Vinegar (米醋)". Omnivore's Cookbook. Retrieved 2022-04-19.
  3. "Photograph" (JPG). Csn.com.cn. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  4. "China's First Vinegar Museum Opens". English.peopledaily.com. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  5. "Vinegar Culture Museum Opens in Shanxi". English.peopledaily.com. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  6. "Shanxi Mature Vinegar Group". Shanxi.chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  7. "Chefs Choice, Natural Brewed Mature Vinegar, Rice Vinegar direct from China (Mainland)". Sxvinegar.en.alibaba.com. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  8. Archived July 14, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  9. 360 Cooking, Yong Le etc. eds., 2nd Edition, 2000, by Shanxi Publishing House of Science and Technology. (Original text is in simplified Chinese only)
  10. 网易 (2019-12-26). "山西经典十大经典名菜!". www.163.com. Retrieved 2022-04-21.