Menzi (food) facts for kids
A small serving of Menzi in Dalian
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| Type | Street Food |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | China |
| Region or state | Dalian, Yantai, Dingzhou, Yuzhou |
| Main ingredients | Tapioca starch, sesame paste, garlic, cilantro |
Menzi (Chinese: 焖子; pinyin: mèn zi) is a yummy street food from China! It's a special snack that lots of people love. You can find it in many parts of China, especially in places like Dalian, Yantai, and Tianjin.
Menzi is mostly made from a type of cold noodle. This noodle comes from tapioca starch, which is a powder from the cassava plant. It's often served with a tasty sesame sauce and other yummy toppings.
The Story of Menzi
There are many stories about how Menzi first started. Here is one popular tale!
More than 100 years ago, two brothers named Men lived in China. They went to Yantai to make and dry vermicelli noodles. One day, after they finished making the noodles, the weather turned cloudy. This meant the noodles couldn't dry in the sun. They were worried the noodles would go bad!
To save the noodles, the brothers quickly fried them in oil. They shared the fried noodles with their neighbors, adding some garlic for flavor. Everyone who tried it said it was super delicious! People loved it so much that they helped the Men brothers set up a small stall. They started selling their fried noodles.
When people asked what the food was called, no one knew! Then, someone remembered that the Men brothers created it and fried it. So, they decided to call it 'Menzi', combining the brothers' name with how it was cooked.
Types of Menzi
Menzi is made a little differently depending on where you are in China. Here are some popular kinds:
Dalian Menzi
Dalian Menzi is a very famous snack in its city. It looks golden and shiny, and it tastes spicy and delicious! To make it, the Menzi is cut into small pieces. These pieces are fried in hot oil until they are golden brown and smell wonderful.
After frying, the Menzi is put onto small plates. Then, a special sauce is poured over it. This sauce is made from garlic paste, sesame sauce, and soy sauce. You eat Dalian Menzi while it's still hot, often with a small fork.
Yantai Menzi
Yantai Menzi uses a special type of cold noodle from Yantai. The cold noodles are cut into small pieces. Then, they are fried in a pan until the outside gets a little crispy.
This Menzi is served with different seasonings. These can include shrimp oil, soy sauce, sesame sauce, and garlic sauce. People say its taste is a bit like the fried sausage you can find in Beijing.
Yuzhou Menzi
Yuzhou Menzi is also known as Xuchang Menzi. This type of Menzi comes from the countryside areas around Xuchang. It's made by mixing tapioca starch with sweet potato vermicelli. Yuzhou Menzi is often used in stir-fries or dipped in a tasty garlic sauce.
Dingzhou Menzi
Dingzhou Menzi is special because it's made with lean pork. It also uses special yam flour noodles from Dingzhou. Each family in Dingzhou might have its own secret way of making Menzi. This means every Dingzhou Menzi can taste a little different and unique!
