Dragon Coil Dish

Dragon Coil Dish

　　The Dragon Coil Dish was a delicacy from the imperial court cuisine of the Ming Dynasty. It was first created in the palace of Prince Xian of Xing at Anlu Prefecture in Huguang (now Zhongxiang). Legend has it that Emperor Wuzong of Ming, Zhu Houzhao, had no heir to succeed him. When he fell critically ill, he issued an edict stating that upon his death, his cousin Zhu Houcong and his kinsman Prince Yi would both be summoned by the Empress Dowager, and “whoever arrived first would become emperor, and whoever arrived later would become a minister.” The Prince of Xing’s residence was the farthest from the capital, so in order to arrive ahead of time, his advisor Yan Song proposed a plan: Zhu Houcong would disguise himself as a condemned prisoner and ride in a prison cart, traveling day and night to reach the capital.

　　Zhu Houcong, being the son of a feudal prince, was accustomed to luxury. Riding in a prison cart was manageable, but eating coarse food along the way was a challenge. He then ordered the chefs in his residence to prepare a dish that contained fish and meat but showed none, warning that failure to do so would cost them their lives. One chef named Zhan Duo, though clever and skilled, failed to create a dish that met the requirements. One day, Zhan Duo’s wife, seeing that her husband had not returned home even though it was late, brought him some cooked sweet potatoes. As they exchanged the food, they accidentally broke the skin of a sweet potato. Zhan Duo was struck with inspiration and grasped the secret recipe.

　　With the combined efforts of the chefs, they created a dish that contained fish and meat but appeared as something else—essentially a “sweet potato” made from fish, meat, and eggs, also referred to as a “carrot.” This “sweet potato” was rich in nutrition yet not greasy, delicious and tasty. Zhu Houcong ate the “sweet potato” on his journey to the capital and eventually ascended the throne as emperor. After becoming emperor, he took the reign name Jiajing. Zhan Duo was summoned to the capital to cook for the emperor. He refined the “sweet potato” and renamed it the “Dragon Coil Dish,” meaning the food eaten by a coiled dragon. After tasting the new “Dragon Coil Dish,” Emperor Jiajing was full of praise and ordered it to be recorded in the imperial cookbook.

　　Since then, the “Dragon Coil Dish” became a renowned dish in the Ming imperial court and a premium delicacy at banquets. With its red-and-yellow color arranged in the shape of a dragon, it is rich but not greasy, smooth and oily, with a long-lasting fragrant taste. Today, it has become a traditional specialty dish commonly seen on the tables of every household in Zhongxiang during the New Year, also known as the “Dragon Coil Dish.”

　　Preparation and Serving Methods:

　　1. Ingredients: Fresh meat, fresh fish, fresh eggs, high-quality starch, salt, monosodium glutamate, scallions, ginger.

　　2. Serving Methods:

　　Steamed: Slice thinly, arrange in a bowl, steam for half an hour, and serve with soy sauce and vinegar on the side.

　　Deep-fried: Slice into one-centimeter-thick pieces, coat with batter, deep-fry in very hot oil until golden brown, then serve with soy sauce and vinegar on the side.

　　Stir-fried: Slice thinly and add to pan after warming the oil to moderate heat.