Horse Head Roast Cake

Horse Head Roast Cake

　　Roast cake, also known as Chao cake (phonetic), is a famous delicacy in northern Jiangsu and southern Shandong regions, particularly well-known for being produced in Matou Town, Tancheng County, Shandong Province.

　　Its main ingredient is flour, supplemented with oil, salt, Sichuan peppercorn powder, and sesame seeds. Before baking, it must go through multiple processes before it can be placed in the oven. First comes the dough mixing, which requires a very particular three-part dough mixture—aged dough, scalded dough, and tender dough, each making up one-third; then comes the kneading, which involves vigorous and repeated kneading until the dough surface is smooth and makes a “popping” sound when slapped; finally, the dough is divided into pieces, rolled out, and topped with an appropriate amount of oil, salt, and Sichuan peppercorn powder, then rolled up, flattened evenly, brushed with a special syrup, and sprinkled with peeled sesame seeds. It is then stuck to the inner wall of the oven and baked over an open flame. It looks golden in color, smells fragrant, and tastes crispy and delicious.