Du Zhong Waist Flowers

Du Zhong Waist Flowers

　　Du Zhong Waist Flowers

　　　San He Ni is a famous snack, popular across much of western Sichuan. It is characterized by its crispy, fragrant, and oily texture, sweet yet not greasy taste, soft and refreshing mouthfeel, and rich nutrition. Served with “red cabbage” on the side, it has a unique flair.

　　Preparation: Glutinous rice, black beans, and sesame seeds are roasted and then ground into fine powder, which is stirred in boiling water to form a paste-like base. In a copper pot, melted lard is heated, then the San He Ni base (three to five portions depending on the number of customers, but no more than ten), sesame seeds, shelled peanuts, and shelled walnuts are added. The mixture is stir-fried over low heat until crispy and fragrant, then sugar and various candied fruit pieces are added, stirred evenly, and removed from the heat.

　　San He Ni gets its name because it uses three main ingredients and the final product has a paste-like consistency. This dish was created over fifty years ago by Dong Shushan in Chengdu, and later made famous by the Gu Yue Hu Sweet Shop.

　　As a result, locals in Chengdu also refer to it as “Gu Yue Hu San He Ni.”

　　Today, there are many vendors of San He Ni in Chengdu, but the best versions are said to come from Gu Yue Hu Sweet Shop and Xue Yuan Sweet Shop.