Fujian food taste
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While some ingredients may be available at your local Asian market, others might require a trip to a specialty store. A common saying about their food is "不汤不行" (bù tāng bù xíng). They'll use somewhat exotic ingredients such as wild foods, wild herbs, varieties of mushrooms, bamboo, and many kinds of seafoods. The "drunken" (cooked in wine) dishes that are prevalent in Fujian Province are famous throughout China.
Soup making: The people of Fujian love soup more than most of the rest of the Chinese.
This includes stir-frying with red rice wine, baking with red rice wine, quick-frying with red rice wine and deep-frying with red rice wine. The chefs take cutting skills and seasonings seriously, and the condiments often used include red vinasse, sugar, vinegar, satay, shrimp sauce and so on. The history of the cuisine dates back 5,000 years.
Understanding these ingredients is the first step toward mastering Fujian cooking.
Cultural Background
Fujian cuisine reflects the region’s geography, climate, and cultural history. Other well-known ones include Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, Sweet and Sour Litchis, and Sliced Whelk in Red Vinasse.
Chinese Name: 闽菜 mǐn cài
English Names: Fujian cuisine, Min cuisine
Popular in: Fujian Province, Taiwan, southeast Asia countries
Flavors: light, fresh, sweet and sour
Famous Fujian Dishes: Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, Boiled Sea Clam with Chicken Soup, Sweet and Sour Litchis, Sliced Whelk in Red Vinasse
Famous Snacks and desserts: Kompyang, Oyster Pie, Spring Roll, Mashed Taro, Dried Meat Floss
History of Fujian Cuisine
The history of Fujian cuisine is pretty long.
For example, to cook Fried Mashed Chicken with Shredded Bamboo Shoots, the winter bamboo shoots are cut like hairs to be integrated with mashed chicken and egg paste completely.
The Most Famous Fujian Cuisine Dishes
1
Buddha Jumps Over the Wall
Over 10 ingredients are simmered with Shaoxing wine to cook this Fujian food, including chicken, abalones, squids, scallops, hams, quail eggs and so on.
2
Boiled Sea Clam with Chicken Soup
This dish is a representative Fujian food, which tastes a little salty, while beef and pork tenderloin can also be added.
Fujian cuisine flourished and formed its own system.
Fujian Cuisine Ingredients – Woodland Delicacies and Seafoods
Fujian Province is by the sea, and there are mountains and plains in land. The food tells the story of the people who have lived there for generations, their traditions, and their connection to the land.
Dishes of different styles have different demands for cutting methods so that the cooked dishes retain the original taste and texture better. Look for restaurants that specialize in regional Chinese cooking, or try making these dishes at home using traditional recipes. Selections include: Sleeve-fish cooked with soy sauce (酱油水鱿鱼), solen (竹蛭), clam (花蛤), sea cucumber (海瓜子), steamed crab (清蒸蟹), fried rice-flour noodles (炒米粉), shrimps (沙虾) and steamed sleeve-fish (清蒸鱿鱼).
- Chinese name:: 小眼镜大排档 Xiao Yanjing Da Paidang /sshaoww yen-jing daa peye-dung/
- Average price per person: 62 yuan
- Open: 11am–2pm and 4:30pm–10pm (from Monday to Friday); 10:30am–2:30pm and 4:30pm–11:30pm (during weekends)
- Address: 7 Hubin Middle Road, Siming District (思明区湖滨中路7号)
Min Cuisine Menu
| English | Chinese | Pronunciation | Characters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stewed Chicken with Three Cups Sauce | sān bēi jī | Sann bay jee | 三杯鸡 |
| Steamed Chicken in Red Fermented Rice | zuì zāo jī | Dzway dzaoww jee | 醉糟鸡 |
| Sliced Chicken in Red Fermented Rice | shāo piàn zāo jī | Shaoww pyen dzaoww jee | 烧片糟鸡 |
| Buddha Jumping Wall (Sea Food and Poultry Casserole) | fú tiào qiáng | For tyaoww chyang | 佛跳墙 |
| Steamed Strengthening Fish | qīngzhēng jiā lì yú | Ching-jnng jyaa lee yoo | 清蒸加力鱼 |
| Tai Chi Prawns | tàijí míng xiā | Teye-jee ming sshyaa | 太极明虾 |
| Hot and Sour Squid | suān là làn yóuyú | Swann laa lan yoh-yoo | 酸辣烂鱿鱼 |
| Sweet and Sour Litchis | lìzhī ròu | Lee-jrr roh | 荔枝肉 |
Travel with China Highlights and Taste Authentic Fujian Cuisine
If you want to try authentic Fujian Cuisine, our tours can take you to authentic local restaurants.
They brought with them their cooking styles. It is a traditional snack that is quite popular in Fujian, Taiwan and Chaoshan area.
Read More: 10 Best Fujian Foods You Have to Try
| English | Chinese | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Buddha Jumps Over the Wall (Sea Food and Poultry) | 佛跳墙 | fú tiào qiáng |
| Boiled Sea Clam with Chicken Soup | 鸡汤汆海蚌 | jī tang cuān hǎi bàng |
| Sweet and Sour Litchis | 荔枝肉 | lì zhī ròu |
| Sliced Whelk in Red Vinasse | 淡糟香螺片 | dàn zāo xiāng luó piàn |
| Fuzhou Fish Balls | 福州鱼丸 | fú zhōu yú wán |
| Oyster Omelette | 海蛎煎 | hǎi lì jiān |
| Sautéed Duck Gizzard and Pork Tripe | 爆炒双脆 | bào chǎo shuāng cuì |
| Drunken Ribs | 醉排骨 | zuì pái gǔ |
| Boiled Shrimps with Salt | 盐水虾 | yán shuǐ xiā |
| Eel in Red Vinasse | 煎糟鳗鱼 | jiān zāo mán yú |
Best Min Cuisine Restaurants in China
Tipang Restaurant
Chinese Name: 破店
Location: 2nd Floor, Tea Wholesale Market, No.
3 Douxiyingli, South Gate, Fuzhou
No. 8 Red House
Chinese Name: 红厝8号
Location: No. 8, Yi'ai Road, Lianhua Fifth Village, Xiamen
See more: Ultimate Guide to Best Xiamen Restaurants
Bamin Food House
Chinese Name:八闽食府
Location: 3F, Fujian Hotel, No.11, 3rd Area, Anzhenxili, Chaoyang District, Beijing
See more Fujian Restaurants in Beijing
Shuyou Seafood Restaurant
Chinese Name: 舒友海鲜大酒楼
Location: No.2558, Xindu Road, Yanqiao, Minhang District, Shanghai
3 Major Styles of Fujian Cuisine
Fuzhou Cuisine: Fuzhou cuisine is the mainstream of Fujian cuisine, which is popular not only in Fuzhou, but also in areas of central, northern and eastern Fujian.
Remember, authentic Chinese food is about balance—balancing flavors, textures, and ingredients to create a harmonious dining experience.
Explore More Chinese Cuisine
Ready to discover more? It literally means: "No soup is not OK." Or, a meal without soup isn't a good meal.