Fried bun is a very representative Chinese specialty delicacy, with a mellow taste, thin skin and filling, crispy outside and tender inside, which makes people have endless aftertaste. Fried buns play an important role in traditional Chinese cuisine, not only as a home-cooked dish in the north and south, but also as a must-have in celebrity chef restaurants and snack bars. This article will conduct an in-depth discussion on the history, production process, and regional characteristics of fried buns, in order to let readers better understand this delicacy.
First, the history of fried buns
The fried bun dates back to the Ming Dynasty, when it was known as "potsticker". According to legend, during the Wanli years of the Ming Dynasty, hungry people fled to the city of Nanjing, and no one accepted them, so they had to fend for themselves. One day, a hungry man picked up some leftover dough cakes and minced meat on the side of the road, and he put them together and fried them in an iron pan. The aroma of frying attracted onlookers-by, and this hungry person created the dish of fried buns here.
Over time, the method of making fried buns has gradually improved and has become a traditional Chinese delicacy. Nowadays, fried buns have become an important part of Chinese food culture and enjoy a high reputation at home and abroad.
Second, the production process of water frying buns
- Making of dough
The dough of the fried bun needs to be mixed with gluten flour and water in proportion to form a dough, and then left to rise for 30 minutes to an hour. The dough is then rolled out into thin slices, then stretched into strips with the palm of your hand, and finally gently kneaded into a hairy shape to wrap the filling.
- Preparation of fillings
In addition to meat, other ingredients such as vegetables can be added to the filling of the fried buns. Usually, the filling needs to be diced or pureeed, and then the seasoning is added to mix well. Commonly used seasonings include minced ginger, minced green onion, salt, pepper, monosodium glutamate, etc. If you need to add flavor, you can add ingredients such as dried tofu, black fungus, shiitake mushrooms, etc.
- Stuffing
After stirring the filling well, take out an appropriate amount and place it in the center of the dough, then wrap the dough with the palm of your hand. In the process of stuffing, attention and skill are required to ensure that the fried bun looks beautiful and that the filling can fully penetrate the dough.
- Fry in water
Add a certain amount of oil to the hot pan, and when the oil is hot, put in the water frying bun that has been wrapped in filling, then add an appropriate amount of water, cover the pot, and wait for the water to boil dry. During this process, the pan needs to be constantly shaken to ensure that the surface of the fried bun is evenly heated to achieve a crispy outside and tender inside.
Third, the regional characteristics of fried buns
Different regions of China have different characteristics and flavors. Below, let's take a look at some of the more representative regions:
- Shanghai fried buns
Shanghai is one of the birthplaces of fried buns, famous for its thin fried wrappers, large filling, juicy and delicious flavor. In addition to meat, the filling of Shanghai fried buns will also add ingredients such as shrimp and dried bamboo shoots to make the taste more refreshing. At the same time, Shanghai fried buns also have a unique production method, that is, first put the fried bun on the bottom of the pan and fry until the bottom is browned yellow, and then add a little water for steaming, and finally form a thin layer of crispy bottom.
- Beijing fried buns
Beijing fried buns are known for their rich filling and delicious taste. Its filling is mainly composed of beef, lamb and green onions, and the seasoning is salt, ginger, peppercorns, etc., which are fragrant and rich in taste. In addition, the skin of the Beijing fried bun is thin and shiny, and the surface has a beautiful pattern, which looks very delicate.
- Sichuan fried buns
The filling of Sichuan fried bun is relatively heavy in flavor, mainly composed of pork, dried beans, black fungus and celery, etc., and the taste is delicious and chewy. Moreover, Sichuan fried buns will add a lot of red oil and chili noodles during the production process to increase the spicy taste and pungent taste experience.
- Guangzhou fried buns
Guangzhou fried buns are popular with consumers because of their thin skin, rich filling and rich juice. Its filling usually adds shrimp, lean meat, mushrooms and other ingredients, accompanied by an appropriate amount of flower carving wine, chicken essence, white pepper and other spices, making the taste more delicious. At the same time, during the production of Guangzhou water frying buns, it is necessary to put the wrapped filling into the bottom of the pot for rapid frying, and then add water to steam, which can ensure that the water frying bun is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
Fourth, the cultural connotation of fried buns
Fried buns are traditional Chinese specialties and an important part of Chinese culture. The production process of the fried bun is a great test of the chef's skills and grasp of the taste. At the same time, the fried bun is also rich in cultural connotation, which represents the simple and profound emotions and wisdom of the Chinese people, and is the embodiment of a lifestyle and spiritual pursuit.
In traditional Chinese culture, there is a saying that "food is in China, taste is in the world". As one of the representatives of Chinese food culture, the fried bun shows the world the charm and diversity of Chinese cuisine through its unique production technology, rich taste and regional characteristics. Fried buns are not only a delicacy, but also a cultural inheritance and development.
summary
In short, as one of the representatives of Chinese food culture, fried buns have a long history and rich cultural connotations, which not only contain the simple emotions and wisdom of the Chinese people, but also an important part of the inheritance and development of Chinese culture. Through its unique production technology, taste and regional characteristics, the fried bun shows the world the charm and diversity of Chinese cuisine. It is believed that in the future, the delicious dish of fried bun will continue to be passed down in China and even the world, and become one of the common favorite cuisines of people.