The following highlights some of the popular Traditional Shandongese Foods. If you manage to be in an Shandongese restaurant or you are visiting Shandong in China, I recommend the following:
1. Chicken with Walnuts
This dish usually consists of a combination of chicken breast, walnuts, garlic, vegetable oil, rice vinegar, malt syrup, soybean paste and sugar. The garlic is fried until golden brown and then mixed with chicken pieces, walnuts and sugar. Sauté the ingredients until the nuts are slightly caramelised. Add malt syrup, rice vinegar and soybean paste to a saucepan with a little water and stir until the sauce thickens and the nuts are coated with the sauce.
2. Cold Garlic Chicken (Shandong shaoji)
This dish usually consists of a combination of chicken, soy sauce, vegetable or peanut oil, peppercorns, shallots and ginger. The chicken pieces are marinated in soy sauce and fried until golden brown. Sprinkle the chicken with peppercorns, spring onions and ginger, then steam until done. Cut the chicken into thick strips and refrigerate for up to three days.
3. Jinxiang Da Suan
It is a type of white garlic grown in Jinxing County, China, where the growing conditions are favourable clay soil and good air. On the outside, the garlic has a bright white skin and a standard flat shape. There are eight to eleven petals inside, with a slightly pungent smell and a slightly spicy taste.
4. Longkou Fen Si
They are transparent, tasteless, colourless noodles made from green beans and peas. The noodles, also known as ‘cellophane noodles’, ‘glass noodles’ and ‘Chinese noodles’, do not stick together when cooked and are characterised by a high starch content and excellent flexibility. Noodles made from bean strips have a uniform thickness. Often used in stir-fries, they are soft, weigh almost nothing on the tongue and only take about two minutes to absorb the rich flavour of soups and sauces.
5. Moo Shu Pork
Known as moo shu pork, it is a spicy mixture of meat and vegetables and an integral part of American cuisine. Traditionally, sliced pork loin, cucumber slices and scrambled eggs are sautéed in peanut or sesame oil, then lily shoots and thinly sliced black and enoki mushrooms are added to the pan. Seasonings for moo shu pork include ground ginger and garlic, shallots, soy sauce and rice wine. This dish is usually served with rice.
6. Mung Bean Sheets
Mung bean flakes are Chinese noodles made from the starch powder of the mung bean plant. Although their clear, gelatinous texture resembles cellophane noodles, they become wide, flat sheets that are often cut into strips and incorporated into many Asian dishes. Thanks to their neutral taste, they can be easily combined with various ingredients and are perfect for a variety of hot or cold stews, baked potatoes and salads.
7. Scallops with Bok Choy
They are a popular traditional dish that is especially popular as a banquet dish in Shandong. Although there are different variations, it is usually made with fresh scallops, cabbage, ginger, garlic, vegetable oil, sesame oil, Shaoxing wine or sherry, salt, sugar and black pepper. The bok choy is scalded in boiling water and drained, while the scallops are blanched in water before draining. Ginger and garlic are fried in oil in a wok and then mixed with sesame oil, salt, pepper, sugar and wine or sherry.
8. Shaobing
It is a layered flatbread, usually sprinkled with sesame seeds. It is made of several layers of dough covered with sesame paste and looks like a flat bun. Shaobing originated in Shandong province, but can now be found in many street stalls all over the country. In fact, there are many ways to enjoy cookies depending on the region.
9. Three Pearls Soup
The soup is usually prepared with a combination of chicken breast, peas, tomatoes, egg whites, chicken broth, soy sauce, Shaoxing wine or sherry, sesame oil, cornstarch and flour. Chop or shred the chicken and mix with the cornflour, salt and beaten egg white. Peel the tomatoes and cut into small pieces. Pour the chicken mixture into a mixture of sparkling water, sesame oil, stock, soy sauce and wine or sherry.
If you found this list useful, here are some more Traditional Asian Foods to try out on my Pinterest channel.