hang on…. that looks like a pie, right?
Sorry, W-R-O-N-G!
it’s a 煎 包
or fried steamed bun. REALLY?? YUP!
I was in JInan, Shandong, a few days ago ( Shandong is a province between Beijing and Shanghai), and I ordered what I thought would be a fried dumpling. OMG! This thing tasted as delicious as it looks! Beautiful, crisp pastry on the top, and inside……..
yep, noodles. Not just any noodles, mind you, but glassy, delicious 粉 条 , fěn tiáo
Noodles made from rice flour, or, noodles made from mung bean paste, or, Chinese Vermicelli…. mixed with some fried pork bits and an indescribable, moorish taste… ( i had to have two).
And all that WITHOUT a skerrick of MSG!!!!
After 13 years in China, you’d think I’d seen it all, eaten all the various dishes there were to offer, right?
NUP. I had never seen such a thing before… a speciality of Jinan.
Delicious.
Just for the record, noodles are usually 面条 , miàntiáo ,noodles made from wheat.
They are pretty much a staple food, and they are everywhere in China, with many regional differences.
For a bit more about the history and types of noodles, check here.
spaceship china 