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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