Yongzhou, a city located in the southern part of Hunan Province, is like a bright pearl embedded in the Xiaoxiang region. It not only boasts picturesque natural scenery and a long – standing history and culture but also offers a variety of delicious foods, which are like a colorful symphony, playing a unique and charming melody. Now, let’s embark on this wonderful journey to explore the mouth – watering specialties of Yongzhou.
Yongzhou Blood Duck
Yongzhou Blood Duck is a symbolic business card of Yongzhou cuisine and a traditional dish with strong local characteristics. Its production process is unique and elaborate. Locally fresh and plump duck meat is selected. Cut the duck meat into small pieces and stir – fry them. When the duck meat changes color and gives off oil, pour the pre – prepared duck blood evenly into the pot and stir – fry quickly, so that each piece of duck meat is coated with duck blood. The duck blood solidifies rapidly when heated, tightly wrapping the duck meat and creating a unique texture. At the same time, add seasonings such as chili peppers, ginger, and garlic to enhance the flavor. The spiciness of the chili peppers, the pungency of the ginger and garlic, and the richness of the duck meat blend perfectly, making Yongzhou Blood Duck bright red in color, tender in texture, spicy and delicious, with a long – lasting aftertaste. This dish can be seen everywhere in restaurants in the streets and alleys of Yongzhou. It is a regular on the local people’s dining tables and a must – have dish for entertaining out – of – town guests. The price of a portion of Yongzhou Blood Duck is usually around 35 – 55 yuan. The specific price may fluctuate depending on the restaurant’s grade and the quality of the duck meat.
Dong’an Chicken
As a classic dish in Hunan cuisine, Dong’an Chicken originated in Dong’an, Yongzhou, with a long history and wide – spread fame. To make Dong’an Chicken, local hens are selected. After slaughtering and cleaning the chicken, cook it in a pot. Then cut the cooked chicken into strips or pieces. When cooking, first pour an appropriate amount of oil into the pot, add Chinese prickly ash and ginger slices to make them fragrant. Then add the chicken and stir – fry. Next, add seasonings such as white vinegar, chili peppers, and cooking wine in turn and stir – fry evenly. The sourness of the white vinegar gives Dong’an Chicken a unique flavor, making it appetizing and refreshing. The addition of chili peppers adds a spicy taste, making the dish rich in flavor. Dong’an Chicken has a bright color, tender chicken meat, and a combination of sour, spicy, fresh, and fragrant flavors, which greatly increases the appetite. In various restaurants in Yongzhou, this traditional famous dish can be tasted. The price of a portion of Dong’an Chicken is about 40 – 60 yuan.
Jiangyong Fragrant Taro
Jiangyong Fragrant Taro is a special agricultural product in Jiangyong County, Yongzhou. It is well – known for its unique aroma and delicate texture. Jiangyong Fragrant Taro is large in size, with a powdery and glutinous texture and a strong aroma. There are various cooking methods for it. It can be steamed to retain its original sweet taste. Just peel and cut the taro into pieces, then steam it in a steamer. When eating, you can sprinkle some white sugar on it. The taste is soft, glutinous, and sweet, as if you can taste the gift of the earth. It can also be made into fragrant taro with braised pork. Slice the taro and arrange it alternately with streaky pork in a bowl. Add seasonings and steam it in a pot. The taro absorbs the oil from the streaky pork, becoming oily and delicious, while the streaky pork is not greasy due to the combination with the taro. The two complement each other, creating a delicious dish. In addition, the taro can also be used for making soup or desserts. In Jiangyong, fresh Jiangyong Fragrant Taro and its processed foods can be easily found in local markets and restaurants. The price of fresh taro is about 3 – 8 yuan per catty, depending on the season and quality. The price of dishes made with taro varies according to different cooking methods and restaurant pricing.
Ningyuan Stuffed Tofu
Ningyuan Stuffed Tofu is a traditional food in Ningyuan area, deeply loved by local people. Its production method is unique. First, cut the tofu into small pieces and dig a small hole in the middle of each piece of tofu. Then, fill the holes with a filling made by chopping and mixing ingredients such as pork, mushrooms, onions, and garlic. Subsequently, fry the stuffed tofu in a pot until both sides turn golden brown. Then add an appropriate amount of water and seasonings, and simmer it over low heat until it is well – flavored. The fried Ningyuan Stuffed Tofu has a crispy outer skin, and the tofu inside remains tender and smooth. The flavor of the filling and the bean flavor of the tofu blend together, creating a rich taste. This dish can be tasted in the kitchens of local families and in local restaurants in Ningyuan. The price of a portion of Ningyuan Stuffed Tofu is about 20 – 30 yuan.
Daozhou Grey Goose
Daozhou Grey Goose is a special product of Daozhou, Yongzhou, known for its tender and delicious meat. There are various cooking methods for Daozhou Grey Goose, such as plain – sliced, braised, and stewed. Plain – sliced Daozhou Grey Goose can retain the original flavor of the goose meat to the greatest extent. After cooking the goose meat, cut it into pieces and serve it with a special dipping sauce. The goose meat is tender and smooth, with an excellent taste. Braised Daozhou Grey Goose has a bright red color and a rich flavor. During the braising process, the goose meat absorbs the flavors of various seasonings, becoming mellow and flavorful. Stewed Daozhou Grey Goose has a delicious soup and is rich in nutrition, with the effect of nourishing the body. In local restaurants in Daozhou, various delicious foods made with Daozhou Grey Goose can be tasted. The price of a portion of Daozhou Grey Goose dishes is about 40 – 70 yuan, and the price may vary depending on the cooking method and portion size.
Qiyang Qu Mi Fish
Qiyang Qu Mi Fish is a traditional flavored food in Qiyang area, with a unique production process. Select fresh fish, clean it, and cut it into pieces. Marinate the fish pieces with seasonings such as salt and cooking wine for a period of time. Then coat the fish pieces with a paste made from Qu Mi (fermented rice) and chili peppers. Qu Mi is the key to this dish, endowing Qu Mi Fish with a unique flavor. Put the fish pieces coated with Qu Mi paste into a jar and seal it for several days of pickling until it is fermented and flavored. When cooking, Qu Mi Fish can be fried, deep – fried, or steamed. Fried Qu Mi Fish has a crispy outer skin and tender inner fish meat, with the unique aroma of Qu Mi. Deep – fried Qu Mi Fish is more crispy. Steamed Qu Mi Fish can better retain the tenderness of the fish and the flavor of Qu Mi. Qiyang Qu Mi Fish has a rich flavor, is spicy and delicious, and has a strong local characteristic. In restaurants in Qiyang, the price of a portion of Qiyang Qu Mi Fish is usually around 30 – 50 yuan.
The foods in Yongzhou are like vivid stories. Each dish tells the history and culture of this land, carrying the local people’s life memories and emotions. From the spicy and attractive Yongzhou Blood Duck to the classic sour and spicy Dong’an Chicken, from the sweet and powdery Jiangyong Fragrant Taro to the uniquely flavored Ningyuan Stuffed Tofu, from the tender and delicious Daozhou Grey Goose to the distinctive Qiyang Qu Mi Fish, every kind of food is worth savoring carefully. If you have the opportunity to come to Yongzhou, be sure to taste these delicacies in person, immerse your taste buds in the unique charm of Yongzhou cuisine, and experience the profound cultural heritage of this city.
