Ear-hole fried cake facts for kids

Ear-hole fried cake (Chinese: 耳朵眼炸糕; pinyin: Ěrduǒyǎn zhà gāo) is a super popular fried rice cake from Tianjin, China. It's a famous street food that many people love to eat. This tasty treat has a long history and is known for its crispy outside and sweet, soft inside.

What is Ear-hole Fried Cake?

Ear-hole fried cake is a special kind of snack made from rice. It's deep-fried until it's golden and crunchy. People in Tianjin enjoy it as a quick bite or a sweet dessert.

How is it Made?

Making an Ear-hole fried cake is a bit like making a doughnut, but with a unique twist.

• First, a special dough is made from yellow rice.
• The dough is carefully kneaded until it's smooth.
• Then, a sweet filling, usually red bean paste, is put inside the dough.
• Sometimes, a little sugar is added to the outside for extra sweetness.
• Finally, the cake is fried in hot oil until it's perfectly crispy and golden brown.

A Bit of History

This famous fried cake was invented by a street vendor named Liu Wanchun. He created this delicious snack a long, long time ago during the time of the Guangxu Emperor. That was many years ago, making this food a true traditional part of Tianjin's history.

Where Can You Find It?

Today, Ear-hole fried cakes are still very popular in Tianjin. You can find them in many places:

• Sold by street vendors, just like when they were first invented.
• Served in restaurants as a traditional dish.
• Packaged and sold in stores for people to enjoy at home.

Tianjin's Famous Treats

Ear-hole fried cake is so famous in Tianjin that it's considered one of the "Three Tianjin Delights." These are three special foods that Tianjin is known for. The other two famous treats are:

• Mahua (snack): A twisted, fried dough snack.
• Goubuli: A type of steamed bun, often filled with meat.

These three foods are a big part of Tianjin's food culture.