Coriander Meatballs

Coriander Meatballs

　　In the not-quite-southern, not-quite-northern city of Wuhan, southern-style meatballs that are deep-fried are called "yuanzi." For many years, coriander yuanzi were known as one of the “three treasures of the poor,” along with lotus root yuanzi and tofu yuanzi. They looked just as golden and crispy as meatballs, and only revealed their true nature once you took a bite—making them a great source of pride for families with modest means. But the impression of being all show and no substance meant they rarely appeared at refined tables. Today, with material abundance taken for granted, banquet culture even shows a hint of “meat-eaters’ snobbery.” Coriander yuanzi and its fellow vegetarian yuanzi siblings have thus aligned with the trends of vegetarianism and healthy eating, becoming new favorites.