Fuqi Feipian (instagram.com/judymiss13)
Sichuan is a province in China which is very famous for its tempting culinary dishes. This is what makes Sichuan always crowded with domestic and foreign tourists to taste a variety of special foods with authentic flavors.
Consisting of many types of dishes, from stir-fried, fried, to salads. Here are five traditional Sichuan dishes that you must try.
1. Twice cooked pork
Twice cooked pork (instagram.com/fishmarketlover) Twice cooked pork is a classic dish that dates back to the Song dynasty. This dish uses fatty pork thighs or belly which are then blanched in boiling water. After that, the meat is cooled in the refrigerator until the fat hardens.
The next process is thinly sliced pork and then sautéed with various kinds of vegetables, including cabbage, peppers, green onions and mushrooms. For the seasoning, twice cooked pork is added with a special sauce made from a mixture of red chilies and fermented black beans.
2. Pao Cai
Pao cai (instagram.com/laide_liu) Pao cai can be used as the best dish for vegetarians who are visiting the Sichuan area. This is because all pao cai ingredients use vegetables including carrots, long beans, Chinese cabbage, daikon radish, chilies and cucumbers.
All these vegetables are put into a container containing a mixture of water, salt, vinegar and sugar, then let stand a few minutes in it. That way, you can be sure that pao cai has a refreshing sweet, salty and sour taste. The appearance of pao cai is almost similar to a salad and is always served as an appetizer.
3. Mala sauce
Mala sauce (instagram.com/tokyofoodenthusiast) Sichuan is known for its spicy culinary delights. One of the most famous spicy dishes in Sichuan is mala sauce, which is a spicy broth rich in spices. Usually, mala sauce is enjoyed with pieces of meat, tofu, offal and others.
While the name mala has the meaning of numbness which refers to the taste of the super spicy sauce that makes your tongue numb. Mala sauce can also be added to various types of dishes such as stews, stir-fries and hot pots.
4. Ants climbing a tree
Ants climbing a tree (instagram.com/ladychu) If translated, this dish has a unique meaning, namely ants climbing trees. This is because ants climbing a tree consist of glass noodles which are likened to tree branches, spring onions represent tree leaves while shredded pork represents ants.
All of these ingredients will be covered with a special sauce that has a distinctive taste and aroma. However, if you eat this dish you are advised to add broth or soy sauce, because the noodles can absorb the sauce quickly.
5. Fuqi Feipian
Fuqi feipian (instagram.com/akiraccccchan) The people of Sichuan often serve fuqi feipian as an appetizer. This food uses the main ingredients of beef organs such as tongue, tripe, lungs and liver which are then boiled in boiling water.
After that, the organs are cooled and cut into thin strips and then seasoned with a special sauce made from chili oil, garlic, sesame seeds, sugar, black vinegar and Sichuan pepper. Although fuqi feipian has the appearance of a red sauce, this dish is not too spicy.
So, those are five traditional Sichuan dishes that you should try. You can easily find some of the dishes above from restaurants to roadside stalls in the Sichuan region.
(irp/Maz)