Speaking of mutton-shabu, many people may start to drool, right? This is a delicacy that many people love. Not only in winter, even in the hot summer, many people also like to eat mutton-shabu. , of course it tastes more delicious in the cold winter. But what many people may not know is that mutton-shabu-shabu has actually appeared in ancient times and has been popular for hundreds of years. So when was it invented? And who invented such an enduring delicacy? ?I will explain it to you next.

Lamb hot pot, also known as "mutton hot pot", began in the Yuan Dynasty and rose in the Qing Dynasty. As early as the 18th century, Emperors Kangxi and Qianlong held several large-scale "Thousands of Old Banquets" , which included mutton hot pot, later spread to the market.

It is said that Kublai Khan, the founder of the Yuan Dynasty, went on an expedition south. When his people and horses were exhausted, he ate boiled mutton and found it extremely delicious. After the war, Kublai Khan asked the chef to make it again. The chef cut the mutton into evenly thin slices and added a variety of seasonings. Another theory is that when Genghis Khan went south, he suddenly missed the meat of his hometown, so he asked the military cook to cook it. However, the enemy suddenly arrived. The military cook who had just killed the sheep and was too late to cook it cut the lamb into thin slices and rinsed it in boiling water. After Genghis Khan finished eating, he hurriedly fought. After returning to the camp after the victory, Genghis Khan asked the military chef to cook it again. After the generals ate it, everyone was full of praise, so Genghis Khan named it "Shabu-boiled Mutton".

Lamb hot pot, also known as "mutton hot pot", began in the early Qing Dynasty and became popular after the Manchus entered the country. As early as the 18th century, Emperors Kangxi and Qianlong held several large-scale "Thousands of Old Banquets" ”, which includes mutton hot pot. Later, it spread to shops and was operated by *** Museum. "Hundred Stories of the Old Capital" says: "Mutton pot is the most common delicacy in the cold season, and it must be eaten in a mutton restaurant. This way of eating is the study and evolution of the nomadic heritage in the north, and it has become a special flavor." It is said that it was not until the Guangxu period that the old shopkeeper of Beijing's "Donglaishun" mutton restaurant bribed a eunuch and stole the seasoning formula for "shabu-shabu mutton" from the palace. Only then could "shabu-shabu mutton" be sold in famous urban restaurants.

In winter, mutton-boiled meat is one of our favorite foods. So when did China have mutton-boiled meat? According to archaeological data, it is described in the early Liao murals unearthed in Aohan Banner, Zhaowuda League, Inner Mongolia. It depicts the scene of Khitan people eating hotpot mutton 1,100 years ago: three Khitan people sitting around a hot pot. Some are using chopsticks to cook mutton in the pot. On the square table in front of the hot pot are iron buckets containing mutton and plates containing ingredients. This is the earliest known information describing mutton-shabu-shabu.

Lin Hong from the Southern Song Dynasty, who lived slightly later than the Liao murals, also covered mutton-boiled meat in his book "Shan Jia Qing Gong". He originally praised the rabbit meat that he ate. Not only did he record in detail the method of shabu-shabu meat and the types of seasonings, but he also wrote a poem to describe it. The poem said: "The snow in the clear river surges, and the wind blows in the colorful clouds." This is because of the rabbit meat. The color of the meat slices in the hot soup is like sunset, hence this poem. Therefore, Lin Hong named the rabbit meat "Boxia Gong". It should also be noted that after he finished talking about boiling rabbit meat, he said "Both pigs and sheep can be used", which became the earliest written record of boiling mutton. According to Lin Hong's records, at that time, the meat was cut into thin slices, soaked in wine, sauce, and chili pepper to add flavor to the meat, and then scalded in boiling water. This was somewhat different from today's shabu-shabu method.

Obviously, the current direct information about mutton-shabu is as late as the Liao and Song Dynasties, but we still have reason to believe that people eating mutton-shabu and the emergence of hot pot were at the same time, but there was no seasoning at first.

In Beijing, everyone knows when it comes to "shabu-shabu mutton". This delicacy is very popular because it is easy to eat and delicious. And because old Beijing used copper pots to cook mutton, it was also called "pot-eating" and "lamb-shabu-boiling."

The legend of hotpot mutton originated in the Yuan Dynasty. At that time, Kublai Khan, the founder of the Yuan Dynasty, commanded an army to go south on an expedition. One day, when he was sleepy and hungry, he suddenly remembered the dish of his hometown - mutton stew, so he ordered his men to kill the sheep and make a fire. While the cook was slaughtering the sheep and cutting the meat, the detective horse galloped into the tent to report that the enemy was approaching. Kublai Khan, who was unbearably hungry, was eager to eat mutton. As he ordered his troops to move out, he shouted: "Mutton! Mutton!" The chef knew that he had a bad temper, so he quickly cut off more than ten thin slices of meat with a flying knife and stirred it in boiling water. After a few times, when the color of the meat changes, immediately put it into a bowl and sprinkle with fine salt. Kublai Khan ate several bowls, mounted his horse, and led his army to meet the enemy. As a result, he was victorious.

When preparing for the celebration banquet, Kublai Khan specially ordered the mutton slices. The chef chose tender sheep meat, cut it into thin slices, and served it with various condiments. The generals were full of praise after eating it. The chef hurriedly came forward and said: "This dish has no name yet, please give me a name by the handsome man." Kublai Khan replied with a smile: "I think it will be called 'shabu-shabu mutton'!" From then on, "shabu-shabu mutton" became a palace delicacy.

There is another theory that mutton-shabu-shabu, also known as "mutton hot pot", began in the early Qing Dynasty. In the 18th century, Emperors Kangxi and Qianlong held several large-scale "Thousands of Old Banquets", including mutton hot pot. Later, it spread to shops and was operated by *** Museum. "Hundred Stories of the Old Capital" says: "Mutton pot is the most common delicacy in the cold season and must be eaten in a mutton restaurant. This way of eating is the study and evolution of the nomadic heritage in the north, and it has become a special flavor.

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It is said that it was not until the Guangxu period that the old shopkeeper of a mutton restaurant in Beijing bribed a eunuch and stole the seasoning formula for "mutton shabu-shabu" from the palace. This delicacy was spread to the people and became popular among the people. It was sold in famous urban restaurants and enjoyed by ordinary people until today, and it has evolved into various versions of mutton-boiled meat, becoming one of the most popular delicacies on people's tables.

"Old Capital" "Hundred Stories" says: "Mutton pot is the most common delicacy in the cold season and must be eaten with mutton restaurants." This way of eating is the result of the study and evolution of northern nomadic traditions and has become a special flavor.

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