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Must-Try Dishes of Anhui Cuisine

Anhui cuisine, one of China’s Eight Great Culinary Traditions, is known for its use of fresh, local ingredients, slow cooking techniques, and rich, hearty flavors. Signature dishes from Anhui are often stewed or braised, allowing the flavors to meld and intensify. The province’s cuisine emphasizes the natural tastes of ingredients, showcasing the mountainous terrain, rivers, and forests of Anhui. Here are some of the most iconic dishes you should try when visiting Anhui:

1. Stewed Bamboo Shoots with Ham (竹笋炖火腿)

This dish highlights two ingredients that are abundant in Anhui: bamboo shoots and ham. The bamboo shoots, tender and mildly sweet, are slow-cooked with savory, smoked ham in a rich broth, absorbing the flavors of the meat while maintaining their natural crunch. This dish embodies the essence of Anhui's mountain-based cuisine, where fresh ingredients are combined with slow-cooking techniques to create a satisfying and deeply flavorful meal.

2. Wushan Braised Pork (黄山红烧肉)

A signature dish from Anhui’s Yellow Mountain region, Wushan Braised Pork features succulent pork belly braised in a savory mixture of soy sauce, sugar, and various spices. The long cooking time results in a rich, glossy, and caramelized sauce that enhances the natural flavors of the meat. The dish is both sweet and savory, with tender meat that melts in your mouth, making it a favorite among locals and visitors alike.

3. Anhui Smelly Tofu (徽臭豆腐)

Known for its pungent aroma, Anhui's version of smelly tofu is a beloved street food. Despite its strong odor, the tofu itself is incredibly delicious. The tofu is fermented and deep-fried until golden brown, then served with a variety of condiments such as garlic, chili, and soy sauce. The crispy exterior gives way to a soft, silky interior, and the flavors are a unique balance of savory, spicy, and umami.

4. Braised River Fish (清蒸河鱼)

Anhui's rivers and lakes provide an abundance of fresh fish, and one of the most popular ways to prepare it is by braising. The fish is gently cooked in a fragrant broth of ginger, garlic, soy sauce, and a touch of rice wine. The result is a tender, juicy fish that highlights the natural flavors of the freshwater catch. This dish is often served with steamed rice, making it a comforting and flavorful meal.

5. Stir-Fried Eel with Soy Sauce (炒鳝鱼)

Another river delicacy from Anhui, this dish features soft and tender eel stir-fried with a savory soy-based sauce. The eel’s slightly sweet flavor is complemented by the richness of the sauce, which is thickened and reduced during cooking to enhance the dish’s overall depth. This dish is commonly served as a main course, and the eel is typically paired with seasonal vegetables or rice.

6. Anhui-style Chicken with Wild Mushrooms (徽州野生菌炖鸡)

This dish features tender chicken stewed with a mix of wild mushrooms native to the Anhui region. The mushrooms, rich in earthy flavors, are slow-cooked with the chicken, creating a savory, umami-rich broth. The dish is a perfect example of Anhui's use of local, seasonal ingredients to create flavorful, nutritious meals that showcase the region’s natural bounty.

Must-Try Dishes of Anhui Cuisine

Anhui cuisine, one of China’s Eight Great Culinary Traditions, is known for its use of fresh, local ingredients, slow cooking techniques, and rich, hearty flavors. Signature dishes from Anhui are often stewed or braised, allowing the flavors to meld and intensify. The province’s cuisine emphasizes the natural tastes of ingredients, showcasing the mountainous terrain, rivers, and forests of Anhui. Here are some of the most iconic dishes you should try when visiting Anhui:

1. Stewed Bamboo Shoots with Ham (竹笋炖火腿)

This dish highlights two ingredients that are abundant in Anhui: bamboo shoots and ham. The bamboo shoots, tender and mildly sweet, are slow-cooked with savory, smoked ham in a rich broth, absorbing the flavors of the meat while maintaining their natural crunch. This dish embodies the essence of Anhui's mountain-based cuisine, where fresh ingredients are combined with slow-cooking techniques to create a satisfying and deeply flavorful meal.

2. Wushan Braised Pork (黄山红烧肉)

A signature dish from Anhui’s Yellow Mountain region, Wushan Braised Pork features succulent pork belly braised in a savory mixture of soy sauce, sugar, and various spices. The long cooking time results in a rich, glossy, and caramelized sauce that enhances the natural flavors of the meat. The dish is both sweet and savory, with tender meat that melts in your mouth, making it a favorite among locals and visitors alike.

3. Anhui Smelly Tofu (徽臭豆腐)

Known for its pungent aroma, Anhui's version of smelly tofu is a beloved street food. Despite its strong odor, the tofu itself is incredibly delicious. The tofu is fermented and deep-fried until golden brown, then served with a variety of condiments such as garlic, chili, and soy sauce. The crispy exterior gives way to a soft, silky interior, and the flavors are a unique balance of savory, spicy, and umami.

4. Braised River Fish (清蒸河鱼)

Anhui's rivers and lakes provide an abundance of fresh fish, and one of the most popular ways to prepare it is by braising. The fish is gently cooked in a fragrant broth of ginger, garlic, soy sauce, and a touch of rice wine. The result is a tender, juicy fish that highlights the natural flavors of the freshwater catch. This dish is often served with steamed rice, making it a comforting and flavorful meal.

5. Stir-Fried Eel with Soy Sauce (炒鳝鱼)

Another river delicacy from Anhui, this dish features soft and tender eel stir-fried with a savory soy-based sauce. The eel’s slightly sweet flavor is complemented by the richness of the sauce, which is thickened and reduced during cooking to enhance the dish’s overall depth. This dish is commonly served as a main course, and the eel is typically paired with seasonal vegetables or rice.

6. Anhui-style Chicken with Wild Mushrooms (徽州野生菌炖鸡)

This dish features tender chicken stewed with a mix of wild mushrooms native to the Anhui region. The mushrooms, rich in earthy flavors, are slow-cooked with the chicken, creating a savory, umami-rich broth. The dish is a perfect example of Anhui's use of local, seasonal ingredients to create flavorful, nutritious meals that showcase the region’s natural bounty.