Hidden Delicacies in "Luoyang"
When it comes to the the most popular cities in 2021, Luoyang is definitely on the list. The drama series "Luoyang" has been well-received. Overnight, everyone wants to go to Luoyang. With the popularity of the TV series, Luoyang cuisine has first stood out and become a hot topic among netizens. Many netizens are attracted by Luoyang delicacies such as Northern Snakehead, Binglao (an early form of ice cream), mutton soup and Water Banquet. Today, let’s learn about the noodle culture in Luoyang cuisine.
01. Pulp Noodles
△Screenshot of the TV series "Luoyang"
Pulp Noodles, also known as pulp rice, is a traditional folk food and also an intangible cultural heritage of Luoyang City. It is addictive with its unique sour taste. Locals cannot forget its taste after eating it, and visitors will even be moved to tears when tasting it.
△Photo by Zhang Guanghui
As the saying goes, "Pulp rice heated three times is even more delicious than meat dishes". No one has really visited Luoyang before tasting the pulp rice. The Pulp Noodles are made from fermented mung bean slurry and taste slightly sour. When sprinkled with leek flower sauce, the whole bowl of noodles seems to come alive with much more deliciousness.
02. Hutu Noodles (incorporating a variety of ingredients at hand)
In Luoyang, there is a saying that "a bowl of Hutu Noodles will make you sweat all over your head". In winter, a bowl of Hutu Noodles will make you extremely warm.
After having a bowl of Hutu Noodles, the first thing you feel is the oily aroma of flour brought together by chopped peanuts, sesame seeds, carrots, green vegetables and so on. Sticky and digestible, a bowl of plain and unpretentious real home cooking will forever be one of your best dishes!
03. Stewed Noodles
Put thin strips of noodles into the pot full of broth, scoop noodles into the bowl with the colander, add chopped spring onion and coriander, then scoop a spoonful of hot stock and pour it into the bowl, which bring out the special fragrance of chopped green onion and coriander. With other ingredients such as shredded kelp, shredded tofu, vermicelli, coriander and quail eggs, a bowl of steaming Stewed Noodles is ready to be served!
04. Knife-Cut Noodles
Knife-Cut Noodles are known as "king of noodles". By just seeing the cooks' skills of noodles cutting, you can't help feeling hungry.
Everyday before dawn, the stock in the pot of the noodle shops has been bubbling and boiling, for which the fresh pork bones and pork rind are selected and slowly cooked. The mellow milky white soup is the finishing touch of the Knife-Cut Noodles!
05. Casserole Noodles
Noodles are the lifeblood of Luoyang people. They can eat noodles in myriad ways, but the most heart-warming and stomach-warming dish is Casserole Noodles.
Pork bones cooked for a whole night, together with other ingredients and seasonings, are put into the casserole pot, so that the noodles and soup base are perfectly integrated. The noodles fully absorb the mellow soup, tasting chewy and delicious. It is satisfying to have even one bite.
06. Hot Oil Noodles
Oil pouring is one of the most important procedures for making Hot Oil Noodles. Pouring oil on the noodles at the right temperature is not only a test of the cook's skills, but also a finishing touch to make the noodles more delicious. A bowl of noodles topped with meat sauce, green vegetables, bean sprouts, and spicy oil is heated on the stove. When the oil starts to smoke, the cook will ladle a spoonful of oil and pour it on the noodles.
Noodles have been deeply rooted in the city and become an integral part of Luoyang people's life.
A mouthful of noodles satisfies the appetite of tourists, and relieves the nostalgia of Luoyang people.
