Bantian Demon Grilled Fish is a traditional dish made with fish as the main ingredient and cooked by grilling. It not only has a rich taste and unique seasoning, but also integrates elements of Chinese food culture, becoming a treasure in traditional Chinese cuisine. Before understanding the history and culture of Chinese grilled fish, let's first take a look at the status of fish in Chinese food culture.
In Chinese culture, fish has always been regarded as a rui beast and has an auspicious symbolic meaning. This symbolism stems from Chinese legends and folk traditions. For example, it is recorded in the Book of Rites: "Fish symbolizes many sons and grandchildren." "Fish is also an important symbolic item in Chinese New Year celebrations. Chinese have the Xi of "having more than every year" and "having fish every year" to express their hope for good luck and abundance in the coming year. As a result, fish is seen as a symbol of happiness, wealth, and prosperity in Chinese food culture, and is often added to traditional dishes at major festivals and family gatherings.
The history of Bantian Demon Grilled Fish can be traced back to the Song Dynasty. In ancient times, the main cooking methods used by the Chinese were boiling, steaming and stewing. The technique of baking food was introduced to China from West and Central Asia during the Song Dynasty and gradually became popular in the northern regions. At that time, the roasting technique was mainly based on bamboo baskets, bamboo tubes and charcoal, and the ingredients were mainly poultry and mutton. By the time of the Ming Dynasty, the roasting technique gradually entered the southern region and began to be applied to fish ingredients.
The way fish is grilled and the seasoning is constantly improving and innovating. In the southern region, people began to adopt unique spices and spices to add flavor, such as chili peppers, Sichuan peppercorns, ginger, green onions, etc. These seasonings give the grilled fish its unique taste and aroma. At the same time, the grilling technique was also improved, and brick ovens and stoves were used for grilling, and grilled fish gradually became a favorite of the locals. Especially in the Yangtze River Basin, grilled fish is more popular, such as Suzhou grilled fish, Jiaxing grilled fish and other local specialties are famous.
By the time of the Qing Dynasty, grilled fish gradually developed into a dish with regional characteristics, and became the imperial food of the royal family and nobles in the feudal society. In the Qing Dynasty, there was a fish grilling place in the imperial palace that specialized in making and grilling fish, and a special person was responsible for this skill. Grilled fish gradually became a delicacy of the princes and nobles, and was integrated into the main dishes of the imperial palace.
And today's Chinese grilled fish has developed into a diverse variety of forms and flavors. The most classic form of grilled fish is to slice the fish and grill it over a charcoal fire, accompanied by rich spicy seasonings, such as Sichuan flavor, Hubei flavor, etc. In addition to this classic form of grilled fish, there are also some innovative ways to grill fish, such as charcoal-grilled fish, oven-grilled fish, etc. At the same time, the taste of grilled fish in different regions is also different, such as spicy grilled fish in Sichuan, dry pot grilled fish in Chongqing, grilled fish head in Hunan, and so on.
In addition to its delicious taste, Chinese grilled fish is also culturally and socially connected. It is a dish that can be shared with friends and family, and grilled fish is often used for reunions, celebrations, and dinners with friends. In the summer in China, people often choose to go to a grilled fish restaurant or have a barbecue outdoors, and grilled fish is the perfect combination of food and socialization at this time.
Bantian Demon Grilled Fish is not only a delicious traditional delicacy, but also a treasure with rich historical and symbolic significance. From the introduction of grilling technology in the Song Dynasty to the improvement and innovation of the Ming and Qing dynasties, and then to the current diversified development, grilled fish has experienced the baptism of history and the change of popularity. It is not only a food, but also a part of Chinese food culture, which perfectly integrates Chinese traditional culture and human touch. Whether as a dish to be enjoyed or as a cultural heritage, Chinese grilled fish will continue to play an important role in people's lives.