Shanxi Street Food

5 dishes in China

5 street foods from Shanxi, China: Dao Xiao Mian, Tounao, Youmian Kaolaolao — Steamed Oat-Flour Rolls, Tijian and Huangmi Yougao. Each one has its own page with the story behind it and what to look for.

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Street foods of Shanxi

Noodle · Hand-shaved Dao Xiao Mian (Knife-Cut Noodles) The noodles aren't rolled or pulled — they're shaved directly off a block of dough into boiling water with a curved blade. A firm dough block is held in one hand while a cook shaves thick, ribbon-like noodles straight off it into a boiling pot, giving the noodles a ridged, chewy texture.

Soup · Simmered Tounao (Taiyuan Herbal Mutton Stew) It's eaten as much for its medicinal reputation as its taste — built around astragalus root and other ingredients believed to ward off cold. A thick, savory-sweet stew combines mutton, lotus root, yam, astragalus root, and yellow rice wine, simmered into a warming, filling breakfast soup.

Street Snack · Steamed Oat Rolls Youmian Kaolaolao (莜面栲栳栳) — Steamed Oat-Flour Rolls Each roll is rolled paper-thin around a single finger before being stood on end in the steamer — a full tray looks like a honeycomb of tiny tubes. Dough made from oat flour is rolled thin, wrapped around a finger into small tube shapes, packed upright in a steamer, and cooked until firm with a slightly nutty bite. It's served with a… 🍜 Noodle Shop · Hand-Flicked Tijian (Chopstick-Flicked Noodles) No knife and no pulling: the cook holds a plate of soft dough over the pot and flicks thin strips off its edge with a wet chopstick, so each noodle… A soft wheat dough is rested, then scraped strip by strip into boiling water. The short, tapered noodles are served in soup or topped with tomato sauce, fried bean paste or a vegetable… 🍘 Fried Sweet · Millet Cake Huangmi Yougao (Fried Yellow Millet Cakes) Because gao (cake) sounds like gao (high), Shanxi families fry these for New Year, weddings, a baby's first month, birthdays and house-raisings, as… Glutinous yellow millet flour is mixed with water, steamed, kneaded while hot, wrapped around red bean or jujube paste and deep-fried. The shell turns crisp and golden while the inside…

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Part of World of Street Food — 3441 dishes from 118 countries. Photo credits.