Liutang Boiled Dog Meat

Liutang Boiled Dog Meat

　　Liutang boiled dog meat is a specialty cuisine of Guangdong and Guangxi. Guilin’s dog meat has its own unique charm — to the north there’s the rice-flavored dog meat of Lingchuan, and to the south, Liutang boiled dog meat. As the name suggests, Guilin’s boiled dog meat is most famously produced in Liutang. Dog meat is considered a nourishing food. In cold winter months, it can be stir-fried, while in hot summer, it’s best served boiled. When eating, dip the boiled dog meat in a tangy and spicy sauce. The taste is tender and delicious, smooth and juicy — truly exquisite.

　　In the Guilin dialect, the word for dog meat carries not only its literal meaning but also signifies a good friend. It is said that in the past, people in Guilin loved eating dog meat and were very hospitable. Whenever they hosted guests or friends, dog meat was always on the table. Thus, having dog meat meant having friends, and over time, in the Guilin dialect, dog meat came to mean friend.

　　Ingredients:

　　Main ingredient: 1000g dog meat

　　Side ingredients: ginger, chopped scallions

　　Seasonings: salt, MSG, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, white sugar, vinegar, oyster sauce

　　Method:

　　1. Slice the dog meat, marinate it, arrange on a plate, and steam for 3 minutes;

　　2. Julienne the side ingredients and place them in a small dish;

　　3. Heat a clean pan, bring the seasoned broth to a boil, add dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, salt, MSG, sugar, vinegar, then add oyster sauce, and bring to a finish;

　　4. Pour into a small bowl and serve.

　　Precautions:

　　First, avoid eating dog meat if you suffer from non-deficiency-cold illnesses. Dog meat is a heaty food and should not be eaten in large quantities at once. Those suffering from coughs, colds, fevers, diarrhea, or excessive internal heat due to yin deficiency should not eat it.

　　Second, avoid eating undercooked dog meat. Consuming dog meat that isn’t fully cooked may lead to infection by trichinella spiralis found in the meat.

　　Third, never eat meat from rabid dogs. The saliva of rabid dogs contains the rabies virus, and any skin breakage during handling could lead to infection. Therefore, meat from rabid dogs must be strictly avoided.