Delicacies from Xian
If you want to experience traditional and authentic Chinese culture then the city of Xian is a must-visit. Vicky Cheng explains about some of the unique cuisines it has to offer.
Xian is a city in the Shanxi province of China, and was also the ancient capital city for 13 different dynasties including Western Zhou( 11th century BC – 771 BC) and Qin( 221 BC – 206 BC). It’ s the birthplace of ancient Chinese civilization and is known for the terracotta warriors and horses which remain world famous artifacts. One way to truly experience a city is through the local food and flavours. Xian locals eat Mo( 饃) and consider it as their staple food- it can be described as a type of chewy bread. Soaked steamed bread and Liangpi are also delicious and both the the locals and tourists give the highest praise to these dishes.
1. Lam Paomo( ⽺⾁泡饃) Lam Paomo is a unique and typical dish in Xian, which is still prepared in its Tang Dynasty style. People can tear the Mo into bean-sized pieces and soak it in the rich mutton stock so that it soaks up all the juices. Some sweet crispy garlic, coriander, and hot pepper sauce are also offered. This gives the Lamb Paomo a lovely texture so that diners can feel the crispiness of the garnish and the softness of the Mo in every bite. Originally, this kind of cooking style was invented in the Tang Dynasty so that soldiers could still eat stale bread during the war.
2. Liangpi( 涼⽪) Liangpi is another well-known snack in the Shanxi province. It is made by steaming dissolved starch liquid until it turns into a starch-paste, and then it is cut and mixed with other sauces. It looks like cold noodles but is prepared in a very different way. You can customise Lianpi to your own tastes by choosing which sauce you want. There is even a halal version!
Hanzhong Liangpi( 漢中涼⽪) is the most famous and popular variation. People eat it with garlic and hot chilli oil. I would recommend eating the spicy Liangpi on a hot day in the summer- it ' s amazing!
Cheng Tim( Vicky) is a year 1 student studying Bed( CL). She enjoys travelling and visiting new countries in her spare time.
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