Dezhou braised chicken, also known as Dezhou spiced boneless braised chicken, is one of the famous three treasures in Dezhou (braised chicken, watermelon and golden jujube). Dezhou paji is a famous traditional dish in Shandong, China, and a classic of Shandong cuisine. The production technique of Dezhou braised chicken is a national intangible cultural heritage.

as early as the Qianlong period of the Qing dynasty, Dezhou braised chicken was listed as a tribute from Shandong and sent to the palace for the emperor and the royal family to enjoy. Dezhou braised chicken is famous all over the country and exported overseas, and is known as "the best chicken in the world".

Dezhou paji, as a traditional specialty food of the Chinese nation, has been widely spread in China, forming many well-known brands recognized by the public. Dezhou braised chicken has become a cultural carrier, spreading Chinese food culture to the world.

the characteristics of Dezhou braised chicken are: excellent in shape and color, spiced and boneless, tender and pure in taste, light and elegant, delicious and nourishing. In modeling, the legs are rolled up, the claws enter the chicken chamber, and the wings cross the neck and come out of the mouth. The whole chicken is lying, golden in color and red in yellow. It looks like a duck floating in the distance and has a feather in its mouth. It is very beautiful and is a fine food art treasure.

The historical origin of braised chicken in Dezhou:

At the end of Yuan Dynasty and the beginning of Ming Dynasty, with the busy grain transportation, Dezhou became the imperial road for Kyoto to reach nine provinces. The economy began to show prosperity, and roast chicken appeared on the market. Old people selling roast chicken with baskets often appear near the canal pier, flood and drought stations and official offices in the city. This kind of roast chicken is a delicious roast chicken after careful manual work: its shape lies on its side, its color is red and delicious, and its meat is tender and delicious. As the prototype of braised chicken later, it has emerged.

With the development of economy, Dezhou City entered its heyday and has become one of the 33 big cities in China. Land and water thoroughfares, merchants gathered, and goods from the four townships were distributed here, resulting in a situation of "tourists from south to north are like clouds, and restaurants and inns are like forests". Roast chicken is not only seen in the dining table, but also "step" into the society.

There are many people selling roast chicken with suitcases in their arms. At first, Jia's family was named, and later, Xu Enrong's family, nicknamed "Xu Roast Chicken", and the Zhang family in the west, etc., and it is not uncommon for people to set up shops in front of the door. Of course, the people who eat roast chicken at this time are still limited to dignitaries, businessmen and rich people, and the common people can only look at the chicken and sigh.

But the inventor and producer of roast chicken are the real working people. In order to support their families, they worked hard and managed dismally, and also made contributions to society. Later, the chicken gizzard was developed. In the narrow family workshop and in the ancient and extensive technological process, the original chicken culture was produced, which was rich in chicken fragrance and elegant.

above content reference: Baidu Encyclopedia-Dezhou Braised Chicken