Chongqing, the charming mountain city, is not only famous for its unique topography and night view, but also for its rich and varied cuisine with unique flavors that attracts visitors from all over the world. Here are the top 10 local cuisines in Chongqing, which will give you a taste of the city’s unique flavors.
1. Spicy Chongqing Hotpot
Chongqing hot pot is the representative of Chongqing cuisine. The fiery red bottom of the pot is filled with butter and the aroma of peppers and chili peppers. All kinds of ingredients in the pot rolling up and down, tripe, duck intestines, yellow throat and so on are must-order dishes. The maw is only “seven up and eight down” in the pot, and then you can enter the mouth, crispy texture with a rich spicy flavor, people can not stop. When foreigners first try Chongqing hot pot, they may be shocked by its strong spicy flavor, but this is the unique charm of Chongqing hot pot, the more you eat, the more addictive.
2. Aromatic Chongqing Noodles
Chongqing noodles are one of the favorite breakfasts of Chongqing people. The thin noodles are served with rich seasonings, including chili oil, pepper powder, chopped green onion, cilantro and minced garlic. Each noodle is covered with seasoning and tastes spicy and fresh. There are many types of Chongqing XiaoMian, including clear soup and red soup, and you can also add peas, mixed sauces and other toppings according to your personal taste. For foreigners, a bowl of authentic Chongqing noodles is an excellent way to experience the daily life of Chongqing people.
3. Crispy Fried Pork
Deep-fried crispy pork is a common dish on Chongqing tables. Selected pork is cut into strips, coated with flour and egg, and deep-fried in a frying pan until golden brown. It is crispy on the outside and juicy and savory on the inside. Fried pork can be eaten directly or cooked in a hot pot, absorbing the hot pot broth to create a unique flavor. Many foreigners are overwhelmed by the flavor of fried pork when they taste it for the first time.
4. Mellow and Mouthwatering Mao Blood Wanton
Mao Blood Wanton is a classic Sichuan dish with duck blood as the main ingredient. Tender and smooth, duck blood is paired with ingredients such as tripe, luncheon meat and eel, and stewed in a spicy broth. The broth is rich and mellow, with a full spicy flavor, and the flavors of the various ingredients mingle with each other. When you eat Mao Blood Wanton, it is best to eat it with a bowl of rice and pour the soup over the rice, the taste is simply amazing. For foreigners who like to experiment with heavy flavors, Mao Blood Wanton is a must-try.
5. Fatty but not greasy Hui-Po Pork
Pork in hot pot is one of the classics of Chongqing home cooking. Choose fat and lean pork, boil it, slice it, and put it into a pot to stir-fry the oil. Add green peppers, red peppers, garlic cloves and other vegetables, and stir-fry well with bean paste and other seasonings. The meat is fat but not greasy, and the side dishes absorb the meat flavor, making it very appetizing. When foreigners taste the pork in a hot pot, they are often amazed at this way of cooking ordinary ingredients to make them delicious.
6. Sweet and Sour Shredded Pork with Fish Flavors
Although the word “fish” is in the name, there is actually no fish in this dish. It’s made from shredded pork with fungus, carrots, lettuce and other ingredients, stir-fried in a unique fish sauce. The fish sauce is sweet and sour with a slight spicy flavor, and the various ingredients are wrapped in the fish sauce to create a rich and layered flavor. This dish is a good choice for foreigners who are not quite able to eat spicy food.
7. Spicy and addictive Spicy Chicken
Spicy Chicken is a specialty dish with chicken as the main ingredient. The chicken is cut into small pieces, marinated with chili peppers, peppercorns and other seasonings, and then deep-fried in a frying pan until golden brown. The chicken is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and the aroma of chili peppers and peppercorns is fully integrated into the chicken, making it spicy and addictive. When eating spicy chicken, you need to look for chicken pieces in the pile of chili peppers, which is a different kind of fun and popular among foreign diners.
8. Soft and Sweet Shancheng Dumplings
Shancheng Tangyuan is a specialty of Chongqing. The dumplings are small and delicate, made of glutinous rice flour and filled with black sesame and peanuts. After the dumplings are cooked, mash and brown sugar are added to make them soft and sweet, and the soup is also very tasty. After tasting many spicy dishes, a bowl of Shancheng Xiao Tangyuan is a great way to relieve the spiciness and satisfy your taste buds’ sweet tooth.
9. Roasted Brain Flower with Fresh Fragrance
Roasted Brain Flower is a popular dish in Chongqing night market. The pig’s brain flower is carefully processed and roasted over charcoal fire with seasonings such as chopped green onion, cilantro and chili pepper. The roasted brain flower is full of aroma and has a dense texture that melts in your mouth. For some foreigners, they may be apprehensive about an ingredient like brain flower, but if they are brave enough to try it, they will find it uniquely delicious.
10. Refreshing and Delicious Ice Dumplings
Ice powder is one of the most popular desserts in Chongqing in summer. Ice powder is transparent and smooth, with ingredients such as brown sugar water, hawthorn slices, raisins and crushed peanuts. It is refreshing and delicious to eat, sweet but not greasy, and can effectively relieve the dryness and heat brought by spicy food. Whether in the hot summer, or after tasting the heavy Chongqing cuisine, a bowl of ice powder is an excellent choice.
Chongqing has a variety of cuisines, each with its own unique charm. For example, there are also: Chongqing Cold Noodles, Bean Flower Rice, Hot and Sour Noodles, Chen Ma Hua, Wanzhou Grilled Fish and so on. I hope these cuisines can let you know more about Chongqing and fall in love with this city full of passion and vigor.