Mi zhi hu lu facts for kids

Mizhi hulu (which means "honey juice calabash" in Chinese) is a special sweet dish from Beijing cuisine. It's made from pieces of pork fat that are covered in a flour mixture and then dipped in a sweet, thick honey glaze. It's a very old and traditional treat from China.

What is Mizhi Hulu?

Mizhi hulu is a unique and traditional sweet snack from Beijing, the capital city of China. It's known for being very rich and sweet. The name "Mizhi hulu" comes from its main ingredients: "mizhi" means "honey juice," and "hulu" can refer to a type of gourd, perhaps because of its shape or the way it's prepared.

This dish is a type of dessert or sweet treat. It shows how creative traditional Chinese cooking can be, turning simple ingredients into something special.

How is it Made?

Making Mizhi hulu involves several steps, turning simple ingredients into a delicious, sweet snack. It's a bit like making a sweet dumpling or fritter.

Preparing the Dough

First, flour is mixed with warm water to create a soft dough. This dough is then shaped into small balls or spheres. These flour balls are then carefully placed into boiling water. After they are cooked, they are taken out, and this boiling process is repeated two more times. This helps to make the flour mixture soft and ready. Finally, eggs are added to the flour to make a smooth paste.

Frying the Pork Fat

Next, small pieces of pork fat are prepared. These pieces are first covered with a layer of flour. Then, each flour-covered piece of pork fat is coated with the special paste made from flour and egg. Once they are all coated, these pieces are then deep fried until they are golden and crispy.

The Sweet Finish

The last step is to make the sweet honey glaze. Honey is gently heated and stirred until it becomes thick and its color turns a darker shade. Once the honey is ready, the hot, fried pork fat pieces are dipped into the warm, sticky honey. They are coated completely, making them shiny and sweet. Sometimes, extra sugar can be sprinkled on top before serving for even more sweetness.

Why is it Not Common Today?

In the past, Mizhi hulu was a popular traditional dish. However, you don't see it very often today. This is mainly because of its ingredients. The dish uses a lot of pork fat and a lot of sugar and honey. This makes it very rich and high in calories.

Because people today are more aware of healthy eating, dishes that are very high in fat and sugar are not as popular as they used to be. So, Mizhi hulu has become a rare treat, mostly enjoyed on special occasions or by those who want to taste a piece of traditional Beijing history.