China Eight: Zhejiang Cuisine

Zhejiang Province isin Southeast China, south of the Yangzi River Delta. It occupies 100,000 square kilometres, has a population of 47 million and a sub-tropical, monsoon climate.

Definition

A delicately seasoned, light-tasting mix of seafood and vegetables often served in soup. Sometimes lightly sweetened or sometimes sweet and sour, Zhejiang dishes frequently involve cooked meats and vegetables in combination.

History

Since the Song Dynasty, this area has prospered and has been a rich and bountiful source of fresh produce. Following the Five Dynasties (AD 907 - 960), economic and cultural centres moved southward and officials and literati gathered in the area making the cuisine well-known throughout China. Zhejiang cuisine includes the foods of Hangzhou, Ningbo, and Shaoxing. The Hangzou is now the most famous.

Recipe Book

In the kitchen: sugar, distiller's grain and vinegars, rice wine, bamboo shoots

At the cooker: stir-frying, steaming, blanching, covered-boiling and red-cooking

On the table: pickles and peanuts

Local Flavour

West Lake Sour Fish

Ingredients:

1000g fish
50g vinegar
60g sugar
2g ginger 

Instructions:

Clean and cut along the back bone. Do not cut the skin.
Boil in boiling water for 3 minutes.
Use 250 g fish stock, add soy sauce, rice vinegar, and minced ginger and bring to boil. Add 50 g sugar, 50 g vinegar, 50 g cornstarch to the stock and pour on the fish before serving.

Sound Bite

Name: Lucy (Lu Mingming)

Age: 23

From: Ningbo

In my childhood: "Seafood with a very light flavour is my earliest memory. I first ate it when I was about 6. My favourite was fresh crab called "white crab" at home."

In my kitchen: "'Boiled crabs with seasoning' is my favourite home-cooked dish. It's easy: wash the seafood, boil hot water, dip them in seasoning while keeping the original flavour, and eat."

Words

Fragrant, fresh, non-greasy, lightly sweet, slightly sour.

Dishes

Sour West Lake fish, Longjing shelled shrimps, spring bamboo shoots braised in oil, Yangzhou fried rice, Lion's Head, West Lake fish, glutinous rice balls.