During the Chinese New Year, every household is busy preparing all kinds of delicacies, among which there is one delicacy, which is second only to sugar oranges, and that is - meatballs. In China, meatballs are not just a food, they also carry the beautiful meaning of reunion and happiness. Today, let's step into the world of balls and see how these little balls shine on the Chinese table.
First of all, let's talk about the types of meatballs. Meatballs can be meaty, vegetarian, fried, steamed, or even boiled. In the north, you may see croquettes made from carrots, while in the south, glutinous rice croquettes are a must-have for the New Year. Some of these meatballs are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and some are delicious and juicy, each with its own unique flavor.
For example, the dried croquettes in Lu cuisine are the favorites of northerners. This kind of meatball pays attention to the charred outside and tender inside, using the fat three thin seven buttocks tip meat, adding yellow sauce to taste, and then using green onion and ginger water to make the meat filling. After the hard shell is fried for the first time, a small crack is made with a spoon, and then fried again, and the balls that come out of this way are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
Let's talk about Hefei's glutinous rice balls, which is a must-have for Hefei people for the New Year. Mix the pork filling with cooked glutinous rice, form balls, fry them in a pan, fry them a lot at a time, and then process them when you eat them. It can be fried, noodles underneath, steamed in the basket, and there are various ways to eat it, each of which can make people have an endless aftertaste.
Jinan's fried soup balls look ordinary on the outside, but as soon as you bite into it, the soup inside will burst out, bringing surprises to people. This kind of meatball is wrapped in dashi jelly, after frying, the skin is golden and crispy, and the soup inside is freshly hot, so you have to be careful when you eat it.
Four happy balls, just listen to the name, it means the four happy events of Fulu's birthday. This kind of meatballs are made of pork ribs, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, starch and stuffing, which are fried and then steamed, and finally poured with the sauce of the original soup hook. The aroma of the meat is full of the freshness of vegetarian dishes, and the fluffy meat filling is mixed with crispy raw bamboo shoots and water chestnuts, which makes people enjoy the taste.
In addition to these, there are also fish balls from Fuzhou, beef balls from Chaoshan, lion's head from Huaiyang cuisine, etc., each of which has its own story and characteristics. The size of Fuzhou fish balls is large, half a fist is the size, and the bread in it is pork, which is very delicious to eat. The Chaoshan beef balls are beaten by hand, which is chewy and served with sand tea sauce, which is a perfect match. The lion's head is made of pork, river prawns and hairy crab roe, and after being stewed for a long time, the fat in the meatballs is leached out, and the flavors of the ingredients penetrate each other, making it as tender as tofu, fat but not greasy.
In Shaoyang, Hunan, pig blood balls are a must-have for the New Year. Hot tofu is mixed with pig's blood and fatty and lean meat, mixed with chili powder and other seasonings, and then smoked after drying. This kind of meatball can be boiled and eaten directly, fried, or fried, and every bite is the taste of home.
Hubei's pearl balls are minced pork into minced balls, and the outer layer is wrapped in glutinous rice and steamed. The softness of the glutinous rice and the deliciousness of the pork are perfectly combined, and the taste is full of happiness.
Quzhou Longyou's meatballs, the main material is sweet potato flour, add a little pork, tofu inside, pull into a round dough, after steaming, sprinkle with green onions, eat soft and glutinous, tenacious, fragrant overflowing.
These meatballs are not only delicacies, they also carry the Chinese's yearning for a better life and their desire for reunion. Whether in the cold north or the warm south, whether in the bustling city or in the quiet countryside, meatballs are an indispensable part of the Chinese New Year. It is not only a pleasure for the taste buds, but also a comfort for the soul.
So, next time you celebrate the Chinese New Year, you might as well make these delicious meatballs by yourself and share the joy of this reunion with your family. Whether fried, steamed, or boiled, each type of meatball will give you a different surprise. Let's use these small balls together to welcome the new year, and may our lives be like these balls, reunited, happy and happy.