Baba Roll

Baba Roll

　　Baba Roll

　　The Baba Roll is one of the famous local snacks in Fengqing. Its main ingredients include pea flour, "pot crisp," and rice cakes, with pea flour being the primary component. It is mixed with seasonings such as chili, cardamom, and fennel, along with water to form a paste, locally referred to as "pea flour" or "thin pea paste." The pea paste is then spread on a pan and baked into thin sheets, becoming "pot crisp."

　　The Fengqing Baba Roll is a culinary masterpiece created by local chefs, and it is a highly distinctive local delicacy in Fengqing County. The Baba Roll is a beloved treat among locals, serving both as a meal and a snack, and has become a dietary habit for many. As a result, numerous vendors sell Baba Rolls, and those who live away from home often return to Fengqing and start their visit by enjoying a few Baba Rolls. Legend has it that making the pot crisp successfully in other places is quite difficult, adding an air of mystery to this unique snack.

　　Although the method of making the Fengqing Baba Roll is simple, there are many nuances in its preparation. First is the making of the pot crisp: pea flour is mixed with water, filtered to remove residue, and the resulting slurry is evenly spread over a hot pan and pan-fried until thin as paper and golden yellow. The edges of the pot crisp are then cut with a bamboo knife, and it is set aside to cool, resulting in a crispy and fragrant taste. Next is the preparation of the thin pea paste (also called oil paste): pea flour is mixed with fennel powder, fine salt, chili powder, and other seasonings, along with water to form a paste. The pan is heated, boiling water is added, and the pea paste is slowly poured in while continuously stirring the bottom of the pan until it thickens into a concentrated paste. Then comes the making of the baba—rice cakes also known as rice cakes or rice flour cakes. Finally, the rice cake is sliced into thin pieces, grilled over charcoal, spread with the "oil paste" and seasonings, and rolled with the pot crisp into a cylindrical shape. The Baba Roll combines the crispiness of the pot crisp, the softness of the rice cake, pollution-free seasonings with excellent flavor, and a texture that is soft, chewy, crispy, and richly flavored, offering layers of taste and deliciousness with a unique character.

　　There are many ways to enjoy the Fengqing Baba Roll, and you can choose according to your personal preferences. Below are several recommended ways to eat it:

　　(1) Grilled and eaten: It has a savory, slightly sweet, spicy, and fragrant taste, making it suitable for breakfast or late-night snacks. The baba is grilled over charcoal, and two pieces of baba are sandwiched with a piece of pot crisp. The top piece of baba is spread with a layer of thin pea paste, chili oil, garlic oil, crushed walnuts, and sesame powder, then rolled up and eaten.

　　(2) Fried pot crisp: Shaped like a butterfly, it is crispy and fragrant, making it suitable as a drinking snack or casual bite. The pot crisp is divided into four pieces, and cooking oil (preferably rapeseed oil) is heated in a pan. The pot crisp is fried until reddish-yellow and then served.

　　(3) Pot crisp Eight-Treasure Roll: It features a crispy outer skin and tender, fragrant filling, making it suitable for everyday meals or banquets. Ham, aged egg yolk cake, shiitake mushrooms, glutinous rice, fennel, chicken trunk mushrooms, walnuts, and peanuts are stir-fried and mixed together to form an eight-treasure filling. A piece of pot crisp is used to wrap about 3 cm of the filling, rolled into a log, and then the roll is fried in oil until reddish-yellow. It is then cut into 2 cm pieces and served.

　　The Fengqing Baba Roll is a unique and flavorful snack developed through the long-standing food culture of Fengqing. It uniquely blends beans and rice, showcasing distinct local characteristics. It has now evolved into a classic and iconic specialty of Fengqing County.