Zhajiangmian

Zhajiangmian
Type Chinese noodles
Place of origin China
Region or state Shandong
Main ingredients cumian, ground pork, zhajiang (fermented soybean paste)
Zhajiangmian
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese 炸醬麵
Simplified Chinese 炸酱面
Korean name
Hangul 자장면/짜장면
Japanese name
Kanji 炸醤麺
Kana ジャージャー麺

Zhajiangmian (Chinese: 炸醬麵; literally: "fried sauce noodles"), or "noodles with soybean paste", is a Chinese dish consisting of thick wheat noodles topped with zhajiang sauce. Zhajiang sauce is normally made by simmering stir-fried ground pork or beef with salty fermented soybean paste. Zhajiang also means "fried sauce" in Chinese. Although the sauce itself is made by stir-frying, this homonym does not carry over into the Classical Chinese term.

The topping of the noodles usually are sliced fresh or/and pickled vegetables, including cucumber, radish, edamame, depending on regions. Chopped omelette or in lieu of extra firm tofu can also be alongside. Low-fat dieters often use ground, skinless chicken for the meat portion since ground turkey is not very popular in Asia.

History

Origin

Zhajiangmian originate from Shandong province and is an iconic Northern Chinese dish. It is unknown how the dish came to be and only a few folktales are available.[1]

Spread of vegetarian Zhajiangmian to Beijing

During Guangxu era of Qing dynasty, after Eight-Nation Alliance invaded China and conquered Beijing, The Empress Dowager Cixi, Emperor Guangxu and their retinues were forced to move from Beijing to south street in Xi'an city. While they were in their trip to Xi'an city, the Imperial Eunuch, Li Lianying sensed a good smell, therefor he looked up and found the smell came from a Zhajiangmian noodle restaurant. He then reported the information of the restaurant to Cixi and Guangxu. Due to the gathered tiredness and sense of hunger after their long trip, Cixi and Guangxu decided to have a dine in that restaurant. After they got into the restaurant and got settled, Li Lianying ordered one bowl of vegetarian Zhajiangmian, And then they found it is a tasty dish, therefore they ordered another one. After the dining time, Cixi asked everyone how they felt the taste of the this dish? They all replied "This is definitely a good noodle, good! Good!"[2] Shortly after the moment, emperor, Guangxu was about to leave and continue their trip, Cixi demanded Li Lianying to bring the chef who made that Zhajiangmian dish to Beijing and palace, so they can eat that Zhajiangmian often once they came back. And this is the story how the vegetarian Zhajiangmian got its way to Beijing.[3]

Types

Shandong

In Shandong cuisine, the sauce is made with tianmianjiang and this version of zhajiangmian is commonly viewed as the standard within China.

Beijing

In Beijing cuisine, yellow soybean paste is used to make the sauce.

Tianjin

In Tianjin cuisine, soy sauce may be used instead of a bean paste to make the fried sauce.

Guangdong

In Cantonese cuisine, hoisin sauce is used to make the sauce.

Sichuan

In Sichuan cuisine, doubanjiang is used to make the sauce.

Northeast China

In Liaoning and Jilin, the fried sauce is traditionally fried with doenjang due to the influence of Korean-Chinese people in these areas.

Hong Kong

In Hong Kong cuisine, ketchup is used to make the sauce.

Buddhist

A vegetarian version of zhajiang sauce may be made by substituting ground beef or pork with finely diced extra firm smoked tofu (熏豆腐乾), edamame (毛豆), eggplant, or extra firm tofu (素雞). The vegetarian versions generally call for soybean paste of any sort instead of soy sauce, since the tofu chunks are larger and need more structure.

Islamic

A halal version is often made with ground beef or lamb.

South Korea

In South Korea, zhajiangmian has evolved into jajangmyeon when workers from Shandong were sent by the Chinese military to Korea.[4]

Japan

In Japan, the dish is known as ja ja men and the sauce is topped on ramen noodles instead of cumian.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "说一说炸酱面的来历-好豆网". www.haodou.com. Retrieved 2018-04-03.
  2. ↑ "说一说炸酱面的来历-好豆网". www.haodou.com. Retrieved 2018-04-03.
  3. ↑ "说一说炸酱面的来历-好豆网". www.haodou.com. Retrieved 2018-04-03.
  4. ↑ Chinese, Korean and Japanese Versions of One Noodle Bowl and Where to Find Them, Westword
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