Zibo is a city with a long history in Shandong province and one of the cradles of Qi culture. The famous local dishes in Zibo are also worth a try, mainly Shandong dishes, which have a long history and culture. Zibo cuisine is characterized by paying attention to the original flavor, not adding too much seasoning, highlighting the original flavor and fresh fragrance of ingredients, and also having rich implications. Here are some of my favorite Zibo cuisines:

Boshan Tofu Box

This is a traditional Shandong cuisine with all colors and flavors. Tofu is made into a square box and fried until it is golden and crisp. At the same time, the tofu block is filled with stuffing such as shrimp, sea sausage leek and black pepper beef, and then steamed in the pot.

Every bite can taste the tender and smooth tofu and the fresh and salty stuffing, and the sweet and sour sauce also increases the appetite. This dish is nutritious and auspicious, symbolizing family reunion.

Bag Chicken

This is a delicacy in which the whole boneless chicken is wrapped in a cloth bag, and the chicken belly is stuffed with dried scallops, skin belly, shrimps, bamboo shoots, meat, mushrooms, sea cucumbers and other ingredients.

wrapped in a cloth bag and simmered slowly with low fire. The advantage of this is that it can keep the tenderness of the chicken and the richness of the soup, and it will not let the ingredients scatter. The chicken tastes tender, the soup is fragrant, and the ingredients have their own characteristics. It is a delicious food that is very suitable for warming the stomach in winter.

This dish also has a good moral, symbolizing unity and harmony. It is said that this dish was invented by Emperor Jiajing in the Ming Dynasty when he visited the palace in Jiuru Mountain, Zibo. He wrapped a boneless whole chicken in a cloth bag, stuffed it with various precious ingredients, and then barbecued it with fire. He gave this dish to the local people and called it "Bag Chicken". Since then, this dish has spread, and has become a must-have dish for Chinese New Year in Zibo.

Boshan Crispy Pot

This is a big dish that Shandong likes to eat in the New Year. It is made by placing the pork belly with skin, kelp, Chinese cabbage, lotus root and pulp tofu in a casserole layer by layer and slowly "crisping" it for six or seven hours with low fire.

This can make pork belly soft and rotten, kelp and cabbage can also absorb the essence of gravy, while lotus root and bean curd add layers to the taste. The juice is plump and tumbling, which is not only balanced in nutrition, fresh, sweet and crisp, but also means that it is more than enough and prosperous every year.

The method of this dish is also very particular. Only by using a special casserole, cutting the meat with a special knife and controlling the time with a specific heat can the best effect be achieved. This dish is also Zibo people's pursuit and blessing for a better life.

Fish soup

This is a soup made of fresh live fish. The fish head and bones are crushed, then a little sugar is added, more vinegar and pepper are added, and sometimes an egg is added. It is sour and spicy and appetizing to drink, which is especially boring.

This soup can not only supplement calcium and protein, but also has the functions of removing fire and diminishing inflammation. Every time I finish greasy dishes, I want to drink a bowl of smashed fish soup to clear my mouth. The method of this soup is also very skillful. It is necessary to use live fish to ensure the freshness, to crush fish, fish heads and fish bones with a special mallet, and to balance the sour and spicy degree with a proper amount of seasoning to make the best taste.

Zichuan meat sesame seed cake

It is said to be a delicacy with a history of more than 1 years. It is made with two special utensils, an oven and a bowl. This meat fire is filled with slices of marinated meat, and the pancakes sprinkled with peeled sesame seeds are stuck in the oven. As long as a few minutes, the brown and crisp sesame seed cake can be baked. The middle of the sesame seed cake is full of hot air, which is bulging, and the noodles, meat and roast incense follow, which is very popular among local people.

This kind of meat has both the softness of bread and the salty flavor of sliced meat. It is a snack suitable for breakfast or afternoon tea. This meat fire also has a good meaning, symbolizing wealth and happiness. It is said that this meat fire was invented by Li Bai when he was writing poems in Zichuan in the Tang Dynasty. He made this snack from flour and sliced meat, a local specialty, and praised it as "the best fragrance in the world". Since then, this snack has spread and become a favorite snack of Zichuan people.