Yangcheng Hot Pot

Yangcheng Hot Pot

　　In Yangcheng, locals like to serve “hot pot” when celebrating happy occasions, treating it as elaborately as hosting a formal banquet. The main ingredients for making hot pot include vegetables, mao tou wan (meatballs), glass noodles, meatballs, meats, eggs, and more. Vegetables are selected according to the season and can include winter melon, Chinese cabbage, carrots, etc.; mao tou wan are homemade, made by mixing glass noodles, cornstarch, and minced scallions, ginger, garlic into a dough, then shaping them into balls and steaming them.

　　 At the bottom of the hot pot, a layer of stir-fried vegetables is placed, followed by a layer of mao tou wan, a layer of glass noodles, and a layer of meatballs. Finally, a layer of pork ribs or twice-cooked pork, and chicken pieces is added, with eggs arranged in a floral pattern. A beautifully shaped hot pot is now ready. The assembled hot pot is placed over a stove and simmered over high heat with bone broth until fully cooked and tender. It is then served to the whole family, who gather around to enjoy the steaming hot pot while chatting about everyday life—a heartwarming scene.