Eight-Sided Pan-Fried Fish from Shiping

Shiping Eight-Sided Pan-Fried Fish

　　    Authentic Shiping eight-sided pan-fried fish has a history of several hundred years. It is made using freshwater carp and crucian carp caught from Yilong Lake in the southern part of Shiping County, Yunnan Province, and Chirui Lake to the southwest of Baoxiu Town. In Baoxiu, rice is planted in March and the first harvest takes place around early September. After a light fertilization, about a month later, the rice stubble sprouts and ripens again, yielding another harvest. Known as a land of fish and rice, Baoxiu is abundant in blackfish. Moreover, the local carp have a round body shape—what is commonly referred to as “ingot-shaped carp.” This type of carp usually grows alongside the rice and might more accurately be called “grain-flower carp.” Surrounding naming conventions such as “grain-aroma carp” or “ripened-grain carp” could also be included.

The term “eight-sided” is likely a figurative number—it’s not easy to actually identify eight distinct sides. Similar to the “eight directions” implied in “commanding authority in all eight directions,” it probably conveys more of a sense of being thorough or well-rounded. In times of material scarcity, using large amounts of cooking oil to fry fish was unlikely, and even if it were possible, it would not have been cost-effective (as leftover oil would take on a fishy smell). The frying method used for Shiping's eight-sided pan-fried fish combines both oil-frying and water-frying techniques, making it a kind of hybrid frying approach.

The round carp are gutted and scaled (the scales are typically left on), then pan-fried with skilled technique over low heat with minimal oil—a slow, meticulous process. Seasonings such as Sichuan peppercorn, star anise, tsao-ko, and chili are added along the way, and the dish is usually served cold. Take a bite, and you’ll find it crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, rich in flavor yet refreshing and sweet. When eating fish in Baoxiu, you can flip it over, though you’ll need to turn the fish head in the right direction at the same time.