Xiaoshan Eight-Treasure Tofu

Xiaoshan Eight-Treasure Tofu

　　Xiaoshan Eight-Treasure Tofu

　　“Eight-Treasure Tofu” was originally a famous imperial dish from the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty. It is said that Emperor Kangxi particularly enjoyed dishes that were soft in texture and rich in flavor. The imperial chefs in the Qing palace often prepared boneless chicken, duck, fish, and meat dishes to cater to his taste. On one occasion, an imperial chef used tender tofu made from high-quality soybeans, mixed with minced pork, minced chicken, minced shrimp, minced ham, minced mushrooms, minced fungus, minced melon seeds, and minced pine nuts. This mixture was then braised in chicken broth to create a thick, soup-like dish. Upon tasting it, Emperor Kangxi found the tofu incredibly tender and the flavors exceptionally delicious, expressing great satisfaction. He believed this dish had two outstanding features:

　　First, it used health-promoting ingredients such as tofu, mushrooms, and chicken, which could contribute to longevity;

　　Second, the tofu was expertly cooked to be delicate and flavorful—superior even to bird’s nest.