Noodle · Hand-pinched

Mao'erduo (Cat's Ear Noodles)

📷 Closely related photo — Photo via Pexels/Unsplash — free for commercial use

One enduring legend credits Marco Polo with learning this pinching technique in China and bringing it home, possibly influencing Italian orecchiette pasta.

Small pieces of dough are pinched and rolled between the fingers into little curled shapes resembling a cat's ear, then boiled or stir-fried with vegetables, meat, or seafood.

Why it's made this way: According to local legend, the shape and name were given by the Qing-dynasty Qianlong Emperor after watching fisherwomen hand-shape the dough.