Xi'an: Cuisine with Profound History

As the starting point of the ancient Silk Road, Xi'an (known as Chang'an in ancient times), holds a certain fame across China and the world. The ancient Chinese city of Shaanxi province is indeed a food paradise. There are many foods in Xi'an have been influenced by other regions, for example, raw materials and cooking ways from Islamic countries and regions have been introduced into the city. Combined with local cooking skills, many famous Halal cuisines have been developed in Xi'an.

(Source: quanjing.com)

Yangrou paomo, or pita bread soaked in lamb soup, is a signature food of Xi'an. The hard bread is shredded and added to a bowl, then topped with stewed and sliced mutton, scallion, coriander and chili; then the soup is poured over all of it. Besides Yangrou paomo, there are many other Xi'an cuisines that visitors can try. Zenggao (Rice cake) is a special snack in Xi'an. Its origin can date back to Zhou Dynasty. Made of sticky rice and Chinese jujubes, it earns its name from its cooker, the Zeng, a traditional steamer with small holes.

(Source: quanjing.com)

Xi'an basin mutton has a long-history reputation. By cooking fresh mutton and its bones with ingredients such as cinnamon, peppercorns, and amomum octagonal, it is better to taste with baked cakes (Baijimo), accompanied by pickled sweet garlic, spicy sauce, and fresh garlic. The meat soup is clear but not greasy and has a unique flavor.

(Source: quanjing.com)

Meatball spicy soup is a characteristic halal food that can be found on Xi'an Muslim Street. It is also one kind of the most popular breakfasts in Xi'an. The spicy soup contains round beef meatballs, chopped chunks of potatoes, carrots, cauliflower, fungus, citron daylily, white gourd, etc. A taste of the spicy soup can make your tongue feel numb and you might sweat slightly while taking it. But after drinking the soup, you will feel comfortable, and the taste will be unforgettable.