Xi'an is a gourmet paradise appealing to every foodie. Then, what are the top 10 must-eat foods in Xi'an?
Shaanxi Sandwich (La Zhi Rou Jia Mo), an intangible cultural heritage of Shaanxi Province, is made up of more than 30 seasonings. With selected ingredients, skilled heat control and aged broth, the preserved meat looks date-red and smells delicious; it is thoroughly cooked but not mushy, and features a special irresistible flavor.
Also known as Paomo, Crumbled Flatbread in Mutton/Beef Stew is a type of traditional pasta in Xi'an, which is delicately cooked, rich in nutrition, appetizing, tasty and agreeably fatty. Paomo features thoroughly cooked meat, thick soup and endless aftertastes. Since it is stomach-warming and hunger-resisting, Paomo is loved by people of all the nationalities in Xi'an and Northwest China, and well received by foreign guests.
Liang Pi is a famous snack in Xi'an, mostly made from wheat or rice and served cold. The prepared Liang Pi features white and bright noodles, yellowish glutens, green shredded cucumbers and red chili oil, which is quite delicious and beautiful. When served with mung bean porridge and cold dishes, it can be a good summer food.
''Saozi'' means diced meat. For Xi'an people, the color matching of Saozi Noodles is particularly important: yellow egg, black agaric, red carrot, green garlic sprout, and white tofu. Saozi Noodles are good-looking and delicious.
Biangbiang Noodles is a type of traditional pasta in Xi'an which derives its name from the ''biang'' sound in the production process. The noodles are made of top-grade flour while the soup is mixed with soy sauce, vinegar, monosodium glutamate, Sichuan pepper and other seasonings. Take out the boiled noodles and pour with boiled vegetable oil. A piece of noodles can be as wide as two or three inches wide, as long as one meter, and as thick as a coin or as thin as the cicada wing. A single noodle is enough for a meal.
Hu Lu Tou, with pork intestine and tripe as the basic ingredients, is a local delicacy in Xi'an and it derives its name from the greasy pork intestine which looks like a gourd (Hu Lu). To enjoy it, you have to tear the flatbread into small pieces first. Then, the chef will arrange the pork tripe, chicken, sea cucumber, squid, etc. on the pieces, soak in the original bone soup three or four times, and add lard and green vegetables. Usually served with sweet garlic and chili sauce, Hu Lu Tou is delicious, tender and agreeably fat.
Crispy Pastry or Guo Kui is one of the eight strange folk customs of Shaanxi due to its large size like a pancover. It has a refined production process and is noted for being dry, crisp, white and fragrant. Guo Kui is chewy, crisp, savoury and mellow.
Buckwheat Noodles, another type of famous traditional pasta in Xi'an, are mainly made of buckwheat flour, mutton, potato and coriander. It is delicious and fragrant. Buckwheat Noodles, Lanzhou Noodles and Shanxi Sliced Noodles are known as the top three noodles in North China.
Glutinous Rice with Jujube (Zeng Gao), a special traditional snack in Xi'an, is made of glutinous rice, red or preserved date and red beans in an iron steamer. This snack looks great in shape and color, and tastes soft, sweet, sticky, and mellow. It is really a good choice for breakfast in winter and spring.
Jin Xian You Ta in Chinese, this is a precious traditional snack of Han nationality in Xi'an, featuring many layers. It is soft and resembles a gold thread when pulled and a pinecone when put down, thus the name. When served, the steamed snack is unraveled slightly. Then, it is put in a plate and eaten with shallot, sweet sauce and so on to get a unique flavor.