Yuxiang shredded pork facts for kids

Yuxiang shredded pork from a restaurant in Melbourne

Yuxiang shredded pork (pronounced "yoo-shee-ang roh-see") is a very popular and tasty dish from Sichuan, a province in China. Even though its name often translates to "fish-flavored pork," it actually doesn't contain any fish! Instead, the special "yuxiang" flavor comes from a mix of seasonings that are traditionally used when cooking fish in Sichuan. This unique flavor is one of the most famous tastes in Sichuan cuisine.

History of Yuxiang Shredded Pork

The Hostess's Clever Idea

One interesting story about how Yuxiang shredded pork began goes like this: A long time ago, a hostess was cooking dinner. She had just finished making a fish dish. To avoid wasting the delicious seasonings left in the pan, she decided to add them to another dish. She poured the leftover seasonings, like ginger and chili, into the pot with other ingredients.

When her husband came home, he was very hungry and found the new dish incredibly delicious. He started eating it right away, even before the meal officially began! He kept asking his wife how she made it. Finally, she told him about her accidental invention. This clever idea eventually became a famous dish that spread far and wide.

What Makes Yuxiang Flavor Special?

The "yuxiang" flavor is what makes this dish so unique. It's a special mix of ingredients that gives food a delicious taste, even though it doesn't have any fish in it!

The main ingredients for yuxiang seasoning are:

• Pao la jiao (which are Sichuan pickled chili peppers)
• Special chuan seasoning salt
• Light soy sauce
• White sugar
• Crushed ginger
• Garlic
• Green onion

This mix of seasonings creates a flavor that is salty, sweet, sour, spicy, and fresh all at once. It's designed to taste like the seasonings used for cooking fish in Sichuan, making the food extra delicious.

How Yuxiang Shredded Pork Is Made

Pork used for Yuxiang Shredded Pork

To make Yuxiang Shredded Pork, you need a few key ingredients.

Main Ingredients

• Pork: This is the main part of the dish.
• Flavorings: Water, vinegar, ginger, garlic, and pickled pepper.
• Other Essentials: Sugar, salt, oil, cooking wine, and soy sauce.

The pork is usually cut into thin strips, or "shredded," which helps it cook quickly and become very tender.

Different Ways to Enjoy Yuxiang

Adding More Ingredients

As people's lives have gotten better, cooks have started adding new ingredients to Yuxiang Shredded Pork. This makes the dish even more delicious! Some common additions include black fungus and carrots. No matter what extra ingredients are added, pork always remains the main part of the dish. Chefs often choose pork that is about 30% fat and 70% lean. Shredding and frying this type of pork makes the dish very soft and tender.

Other Yuxiang Dishes

The tasty "yuxiang" flavor has become very popular across different parts of China. People in various regions have created their own versions of yuxiang dishes, based on their local eating habits.

Some other dishes that use the famous yuxiang flavor include:

• Yuxiang Pork Liver
• Yuxiang Eggplant
• Yuxiang Three Silk (魚香三絲), which is a mix of shredded pork, shredded tofu, and shredded green pepper.

Gallery

See also

In Spanish: Cerdo Yuxiang para niños