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Huai Yang Cuisine {淮阳菜} is native to China’s Yangtze River Delta, a place I proudly call my hometown. It is one of the Four Great Traditions of Chinese Cuisines. Well known for its natural deliciousness, Huai Yang Cooking Style aims to bring out the food itself’s inherent yumminess. The condiments are only there to complement but not overpower. Huai Yang Style Food uses very little salt, oil, and avoids any over-powering condiments, including hot peppers. Therefore, it is suitable for all ages, including young children.
Huai Yang Cuisine and Four Great Traditions of Chinese Cuisines
In case you are curious, the Four Great Traditions of Chinese Cuisines are Shandong or short for Lu {鲁}, Sichuan or Chuan {川}, Cantonese or Yue {粤} and Huai Yang or Su {苏}. Over the course of China’s long history, these four areas each formed their distinguished style of cooking style based on their unique history, culture, local climates, as well as native available ingredients.
Short for “Su” {苏}, after Jiangsu Province {江苏}, or Suzhou {苏州} City which lies in the heart of Jiangsu Province, Huai Yang Cuisine features Pork, poultry, and seafood, especially lake and river fresh fish and shellfish cooked in an unaltered fashion.
Seasonal fresh produce such as all kinds of vegetables is a significant highlight of Huai Yang Style food. Rice and sweet rice, either as grain or flour, are frequent ingredients of Huai Yang dishes. Rice widely grows in this area and is the local staple food.
Huai Yang style food, especially meat, has its iconic semi-sweetness. Sweet and Sour is one of the be-loved flavors. Sweet and Sour Ribs, Sweet and Sour Yellow Croaker, just to name a few. The sour is coming from the renowned Zhenjiang Vinegar.
Shaoxing Wine and Zhenjiang Vinegar – Two Essential Condiments for Huai Yang Style Cooking
Besides traditionally and naturally brewed Soy Sauce, Shaoxing Wine and Zhenjiang Vinegar are among the two essential cooking condiments for Huai Yang Style cooking.
These two delicious condiments are indeed local products. Shaoxing is in Zhenjiang Province, and Zhenjiang is in Jiangsu Province. Both provinces are in the Yangtze River Delta area.
Huai Yang Cuisine Collection
There are so many delicious Huai Yang dishes. I have compiled below six (6) Huai Yang Classic food to start with.
No. 1 The Lion’s Head Soup {清炖狮子头}
Lion’s Head Soup {清炖狮子头} or pork meatballs, in the clear but heavenly delicious broth is one of the most loved classic Huai Yang style dishes. It features supernaturally delicious, melt-in-your-mouth pork meatballs slowly cooked for 2 hours.
Unbelievably easy to make this using a simple slow cooking method as long as you learn a few tips and tricks. Salted dried young bamboo shoots or Bian Jian {扁尖} is the secret ingredient.
Read here for a detailed guided recipe to make this at home easily and perfectly!
No. 2 Nanjing Salted Duck
Nanjing Salted Duck {南京盐水鸭}, another beloved traditional Chinese Huai Yang Cuisine dish, features extremely delicious savory, tender duck in the original looking color.
The utmost delicious and concentrated broth left behind cooking the duck is perfect for Noodle Soup or a Boiled Vegetable such as cauliflower.
Read here for a detailed guided Recipe.
No. 3 Qing Tuan {青团}
Qing Tuan {青团}, or Green Sweet Rice Flour Dumplings with Red Bean Paste, is a steamed green sweet rice flour dumpling with red bean paste. They are classic Huai Yang style pastry, which is also one of the must-have items for Qing Ming festival {清明节}.
I use superfood organic chlorella powder as an all-natural green color.
Read here for a detailed and guided Recipe.
No. 4 Yang Chun Noodles
Yang Chun Noodles {阳春面}, noodles in the soy sauce soup, is a humble and popular Huai Yang Style Noodle Soup that is full of flavor. It features sweet soy soup enhanced by cooked pork fat with the refreshing firm bite of noodles. A true living example of simplicity is the ultimate sophistication!
Read here for a detailed and guided Recipe.
No. 5 Sheng Jian Mantou {生煎馒头}
Sheng Jian Mantou {生煎馒头}, also known as pan-fried pork buns, is a traditional Huai Yang style food. It features a crispy bottom but soft top, a firm bite semi-spongy bun wrapper, and juicy & tasty pork filling that has a hint of sweetness.
Read here to learn all you need to know to make this authentic Sheng Jian in an easy, healthy and delicious way.
No. 6 Pan Fried Crucian Whole Fish with Scallions
Pan Fried Crucian Carp Whole Fish with Scallion {Cong Kao Ji Yu 葱烤鲫鱼} is such a traditional Huai Yang style food. It features a tender, naturally delicious crucian carp pan fried with scallion, ginger, and a splash of soy sauce, cooking wine, and sugar.
If you do not have access to Crucian, White Perch is probably the best substitute.
Read here to learn all the tips and tricks to cook a perfect pan fried crucian whole fish easy, healthy, and authentic way!
Like Huai Yang Cuisine? Check out here for additional traditional Huai Yang food recipes.
