Miancheng Sour Pickled Fish

Miancheng Sour Pickled Fish

　　Legend has it that when Chen Youliang stationed his troops in Miancheng, the locals prepared a traditional dish called “Sour Pickled Fish” to honor them. Chen Youliang and Empress Luo tasted it together and were highly impressed. They praised it as an exquisite imperial delicacy, insisting on having it at every meal and finding their meals bland without it. Since then, “Sour Pickled Fish” has become a local specialty of Miancheng. Today, Old Wang’s Sour Pickled Fish in Miancheng offers a uniquely exceptional flavor.

　　 1. Pan-Fried Sour Pickled Fish

　　 Ingredients:

　　 A small amount of mashed garlic, monosodium glutamate (MSG), white vinegar, and chopped scallions.

　　 Method:

　　 Heat the pan and add oil. Once the oil is 80% hot, place the sour pickled fish in the pan. Turn the heat to low, and pan-fry both sides of the fish until golden brown. Then add the mashed garlic and MSG, stir briefly, pour in 3 taels of white vinegar, add chopped scallions, and serve.

　　 2. Sour Pickled Fish Soup

　　 Ingredients:

　　 A handful of Longkou vermicelli, mashed garlic, white vinegar, salt, monosodium glutamate (MSG), chopped scallions, and a little sesame oil.

　　 Method:

　　 In a pot, add one bowl of water along with the sour pickled fish, vermicelli, mashed garlic, 3 taels of white vinegar, salt, and MSG. Bring to a boil until the soup has a rich flavor and the aroma of the sourness fills the air. Then serve in a bowl, topped with a little chopped scallion and sesame oil. This soup is appetizing and invigorating.

　　 Tips:

　　 1. Grass carp is rich in unsaturated fatty acids, which are beneficial to blood circulation and make it a good food choice for cardiovascular patients.

　　 2. Grass carp contains abundant selenium, which helps combat aging and improve skin health when consumed regularly. It also has certain preventive effects against tumors.

　　 3. For those who are physically weak or have poor appetite, grass carp is tender yet not greasy, making it both appetizing and nourishing.