Ants on a tree is usually made from vermicelli (or vermicelli), minced meat as the main ingredient, supplemented by carrots, ginger, green onions, bean paste and other auxiliary ingredients. When the dish is ready, it is light in taste, smooth and delicious, with a reddish color, which makes it unique to eat.
Legends
According to legend, Dou Tianzhang, a scholar, gave his daughter, Dou E, to his debtor, Mrs. Cai, as a child bride before he left for Chuzhou to apply for the imperial examination. The daughter's mother-in-law was a good daughter-in-law, and her husband was a good husband, and her husband was a good wife. Soon after, her husband died of a disease and her mother-in-law fell ill. Dou E picked up the family's heavy burden with her weak shoulders, and while she sought medical help for her mother-in-law, she also tried to make delicious meals to nourish her mother-in-law's body, and she gradually got better. But the economy was tight and Dou E had to go on credit. In front of the meat case, the meat seller said, "You haven't paid back the money you owed on the previous two occasions, so you can't get any more credit." Dou E had to beg and plead, and the meat seller was so pestered that he cut a small piece of meat for Dou E. It was time to cook. It was time to cook, Dou E thought, "What can you do with such a small amount of meat? Her eyes fell on the top of the cupboard, where there was a small handful of vermicelli left over from New Year's Eve. Dou E had an idea, she took down the fans, soaked in boiling water, and then cut the meat into mince, add onion, ginger stir fry in the pot, add soy sauce, fans stir fry for a few moments, and finally add shredded green garlic, pepper to start the pot. Lying in bed, my mother-in-law asked, "Dou E, what dish did you make that smells so good?"" It's fried vermicelli." With the sound of the words, Dou E then brought the dish to the bed. Before moving her chopsticks, the mother-in-law noticed that there were many black dots on the vermicelli, and she mimicked her presbyopic eyes and asked, "How come there are so many ants on this?" When she knew the reason, and move chopsticks after a taste, can not help but praise, but also said, this dish is simply called "ants on the tree" it.