Mall Stewed Dishes

Mall Stewed Dishes

　　Mall Stewed Dishes are a specialty of Shangcheng County in Xinyang City, Henan Province. These dishes are half-soup, half-vegetables, retaining their original flavors, tender and fragrant, rich yet not greasy, fresh without being fishy, with a mellow taste that is easy to digest and highly nutritious—making them ideal for health and wellness. Shangcheng County has earned the reputation of being a “Shangcheng Gourmet Paradise” and the honor of being named the “Hometown of Stewed Dishes in Henan Province.”

　　Located at the northern foot of the Dabie Mountains and in the upper reaches of the Huai River basin, Shangcheng is known as a famous “Land of Fish and Rice.” Its unique geographical location, excellent ecological environment, high-quality food resources, rich cultural heritage, and simple local customs, combined with the perfect integration of traditional local cuisine and refined Qing Dynasty palace dishes, have created Shangcheng’s distinctive food culture. This has given rise to a culinary style dominated by stewing, but also incorporating stir-frying, braising, deep-frying, steaming, and other cooking techniques. It blends the flavors of both northern and southern China, making it the birthplace of “Xinyang Stewed Dishes,” earning the title of “Shangcheng Gourmet Paradise” and the honor of being named the “Hometown of Stewed Dishes in Henan Province.”

　　The history of Mall Stewed Dishes is long and profound. It began in the Tang and Song dynasties, flourished in the Ming and Qing dynasties, reached its peak during the Anti-Japanese War, and continued to develop in modern times. For thousands of years, the people of Shangcheng have adhered to the philosophy of preserving original flavors, carefully crafting these dishes, eventually forming a flavor profile represented by clear stewing. This style is fundamentally different from northeastern and southern Chinese stewed dishes, carving out a unique place within China's 5,000-year culinary heritage.

　　The taste of Mall Stewed Dishes is widely appreciated. With its emphasis on original flavors and fresh, tender aromas, it aligns with the dietary habits and modern trends of the people in Shangcheng and surrounding areas, and is also embraced by a broader population beyond the region.

　　Mall Stewed Dishes come in a rich variety. Popular stewed dishes today fall into four main categories based on broth: original soup, milk soup, clear soup, and red soup, with over a hundred varieties in total. Original soup-based stews are the most common, accounting for more than 70% of all stewed dishes.

　　The selection of ingredients for Mall Stewed Dishes is strict. Fresh and live products are primarily chosen, with an emphasis on locally sourced, natural poultry, aquatic products, plants, and fungi.

　　Mall Stewed Dishes emphasize precise control of heat. When preparing original soup-based stews with chicken, duck, fish, or meat as the main ingredients, the heat control is particularly rigorous. Typically, the dish is first brought to a boil over high heat, then simmered over medium heat to remove scum, and finally slow-cooked over low heat.

　　The use of seasonings in Mall Stewed Dishes is restrained. Generally, only basic seasonings such as green onions, ginger, salt, and cooking oil are used. Spices like chili, pepper, garlic, soy sauce, and light soy sauce are avoided. For a small number of fish or meat-based stews, in addition to the basic seasonings, a small amount of cooking wine, rice wine, or aromatic vinegar may be added.

　　Mall Stewed Dishes are suitable for health and wellness. Most of the popular varieties today are juicy stews that are half-soup, half-vegetables, retaining original flavors, tender and fragrant, rich yet not greasy, fresh without being fishy, with a mellow taste that is easy to digest and highly nutritious—making them ideal for health and wellness.