Guangnan Pumpkin Crisps

Guangnan Pumpkin Crisps

　　Guangnan boasts many unique dishes, one simple yet distinctive creation: pumpkin crisps. Elsewhere, this "vegetarian delicacy" seems unheard of, let alone tasted. But why call it a "vegetarian dish" if it's made like crisp meat? Because these pumpkin crisps were originally invented and made by the older generation of Guangnan residents who followed vegetarian diets for religious reasons. The ingredients are mature pumpkin, glutinous rice flour, white or brown sugar, and vegetable oil. The method involves peeling the pumpkin, slicing it into wedges, then cutting into shreds. Sprinkle with sugar, mix well, and let it marinate for 10 minutes. Then, add glutinous rice flour and stir into a thick paste to bind the pumpkin shreds. Heat oil in a pan to 70–80% heat, then use a spoon or chopsticks to drop spoonfuls of the batter into the oil to deep-fry until fully cooked through. Remove and drain excess oil before plating. For oval-shaped crisps, use a spoon or small ladle to scoop and fry the mixture. To make crab-shaped crisps, use chopsticks to pick up and drop the batter, allowing the pumpkin shreds to scatter in all directions, resembling crab claws.