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Simple, juicy, and savory lu rou fan is a popular Taiwanese dish consisting of ground pork braised in soy sauce, five-spice powder, and rice wine until it becomes tender and flavorful. It is traditionally served over rice, although some cooks like to replace the rice with noodles.
Sometimes, pickled cucumbers or shiitake mushrooms are served alongside the dish. Literally translated, lu rou fan means stewed meat rice, and the dish is sometimes referred to as Taiwanese ragú. In Taiwan, lu rou fan was originally consumed as a nutritious and healthy meal for farming families, but today it can be found almost everywhere, from home kitchens to restaurants and street stalls.
Tsukune is a yakitori version that is prepared with ground chicken. The meat is seasoned, and it is typically formed in oblong patties or small meatballs that are skewered on bamboo sticks. Like other types of yakitori, the skewers are typically seasoned with salt (shio) or tare—subtly sweet combination based on soy sauce, sake, and mirin, while the meat can be enriched with sliced scallions, garlic, ginger, onions, or shiso leaves.
Tsukune is usually served with a raw egg yolk and various toppings. The dish is a staple at specialized yakitori establishments.
MOST ICONIC Tsukune yakitori
View moreContrary to what one might think upon hearing the name of the dish, lion's head is a meal consisting of big pork meatballs that are stewed with noodles and vegetables such as cabbage. It dates back to the times of the Sui Dynasty, when Emperor Yang took a trip to Yangzhou and made his chefs prepare a dish that was inspired by the Yangzhou landscapes, which he loved.
The meatballs looked similar to the Chinese guardian lion's head, so the name stuck until today. In China, there are two versions of the dish - one is served in a rich, brown sauce (Zhenjiang variety), and the other in a lighter broth (Yangzhou variety).
Tteokgalbi is a South Korean dish made with ground beef short ribs. The meat is marinated and made into patties that are then grilled. Occasionally, the meat is formed around the bones, and the patties are often glazed during grilling. Tteokgalbi translates as cake ribs—which allegedly arose since the texture and preparation resemble those of tteok rice cakes.
It is believed that this traditional dish originated at the Korean royal court, but nowadays, it is strongly associated with the provinces of South Jeolla and Gyeonggi. Modern varieties are adapted with various ingredients, and the dish is enjoyed throughout the country.
MOST ICONIC Tteokgalbi
View moreMinchi is a comforting dish native to Macau, consisting of stir-fried minced meat infused with soy sauce. The dish appears in many version but usually incorporates minced beef or pork, potatoes, onions, and occasionally Chinese black fungus and Portuguese sausage.
It is usually served over rice and topped with a crispy fried egg. Because its name derives from the English word for minced, it is believed that the dish was influenced by the British community living in the vicinity of Macau.
Even though it is often referred to as the Chinese meat pie, xianbing is, in fact, more similar to an over-sized, seared jiaozi-style dumpling. Both are made with the same, basic flour-and-water dough, except the one for xianbing is layered before being rolled out, and unlike jiaozi dumplings which are steamed, xianbings are pan-fried.
Being one of the hallmarks of the Northern Chinese Islamic halāl cuisine, the crispy-crusted xianbing is traditionally filled with soy sauce flavored minced beef, ginger, and onions, while in other regions it can also be filled with pork, lamb, or even with an all-vegetable filling in its vegetarian version.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Beef balls are Chinese food items made with finely pulverized beef and other types of ground meat, such as pork. The tiny tendons in each ball will dissolve during the process of slow cooking. Because the meat in beef balls is pulverized and not ground, it results in a much smoother texture than in regular meatballs.
In Hong Kong, beef balls are usually mixed with wonton noodles, and they are also a popular addition to hot pot dishes.
MOST ICONIC Niúwán
View morePork ball is a Chinese meatball consisting of ground pork and starch, while cuttlefish is sometimes added to the combination in order to add flavor and impart a chewy texture to the meatballs. These chewy meatballs are popular in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand.
In Taiwan, pork balls are usually served in a soup known as gongwan tang, and in the Taiwanese city of Hsinchu, there is an annual festival dedicated solely to these delicious meatballs.
These South Korean meatballs are usually prepared with a combination of tofu and minced beef or pork. Sometimes a combination of both beef and pork can be used, and additional ingredients typically include onions, garlic, and seasonings, as well as finely diced carrots and scallions.
Before frying, the meatballs are shaped and flattened and then coated in flour and egg wash. Although they are a common everyday dish, wanjajeon are also regularly enjoyed on Korean New Year and Chuseok—traditional harvest festival. They are quite versatile and can be served as a main course, side dish, snack, or an appetizer, usually with a dipping sauce on the side.
Taco rice is a Japanese dish hailing from Okinawa. It was created in 1984 as a dish for the US soldiers stationed in the prefecture. The dish consists of ground beef, cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes served on a bed of short grain rice. The whole dish is traditionally topped with salsa.
The meat is seasoned with taco seasoning or a combination of common Japanese condiments if the taco seasoning is unavailable. What was once created for the American soldiers is now one of the best known dishes in Okinawa, and it's recommended to accompany it with koregusu, a condiment similar to chili vodka.
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