Zhaotong Oil Cake & Rice Cake

Zhaotong Oil Cake & Rice Cake

　　A book by Huo Da, *The Muslim Funeral*, mentions Oil Cake & Rice Cake. In Zhaotong, this dish represents a flavorful and enriched way of life. Its status as a somewhat famous local snack is beyond dispute.

　　The main ethnic groups in Zhaotong are Hui, Han, and Yi, and this fragrant delicacy has accompanied the city through many years. No matter which ethnic group originally created it, in Zhaotong, Oil Cake & Rice Cake is a favorite snack for everyone. But you have to get up early for it—otherwise, it’ll be all gone. So, in the hazy early morning, the golden aroma of Oil Cake & Rice Cake wafts through the entire city.

　　It’s likely that those who grew up here would be reminded of many fond childhood memories upon smelling this fragrance. That’s the magic of taste. No need to consciously remember—it all comes flooding back the moment you encounter it again.

　　Oil Cake with Thin Bean Paste has long been a traditional specialty snack of Zhaotong. The perfect combination of golden, crispy oil cake and fragrant thin bean paste has made this snack enduringly popular. The oil cake is primarily made from potatoes, using high-quality ones from chilly mountainous areas of Zhaoyang District, such as Xiaolong Cave and Jing’an Xikui Liangzi. The potatoes are boiled, chopped, coated with a thin layer of rice batter, then deep-fried until golden and removed from the oil. The finished oil cake is golden in color, with a crispy outer layer and soft, sweet interior, exuding the unique aroma of potatoes.

　　Spread a roasted rice cake with fragrant peanut butter, sweet sauce, and well-seasoned spicy chili sauce, then wrap the oil cake inside. Take a bite, and the crunchiness of the oil cake, the softness of the rice cake, and the spiciness of the chili sauce will fill your entire taste buds, lingering for a long time.

　　Take a thin piece of rice cake, spread it with chili sauce, sweet sauce, and sometimes add chopped scallions, minced meat, or tofu cubes. Then pluck a piping hot oil cake from the sizzling oil and place it on the seasoned rice cake, wrap it up, and your complete Oil Cake & Rice Cake is ready to eat. One bite fills your mouth with rich aroma and satisfaction. Thanks to its great value and convenience, it’s favored by many diners—some even jokingly call it “Zhaotong’s KFC.”

　　Wherever there’s Oil Cake & Rice Cake, you’ll also find Thin Bean Paste for sale. The combination of Oil Cake & Rice Cake with Thin Bean Paste is simply a perfect match.

　　Thin Bean Paste is made by grinding high-quality peas into a flour-like consistency, then cooking it with seasonings like ginger. Once cooked, the paste is light yellow and fragrant. Scooped into a bowl and sprinkled with a bit of chopped scallions, chili powder, and Sichuan peppercorn powder, the light yellow of the paste, the green of the scallions, and the bright red of the chili create a visual treat that makes your mouth water. Take a sip, smack your lips—it’s truly refreshing. This delicious dish is not only pleasing to the eye and stomach but also good for the skin. Since it’s made from peas, regularly drinking Thin Bean Paste can also help fade spots and beautify the complexion.

　　It’s common to see even the best hotels in Zhaotong, like the Huayuan Guesthouse, serving a few plates of Oil Cake & Rice Cake and bowls of Thin Bean Paste when receiving distinguished guests—this alone shows how highly the locals regard this dish.

　　Soaking Oil Cake & Rice Cake in Thin Bean Paste is another way to enjoy it. The bean paste, ground from peas, is smooth, delicate, and highly nutritious, aids digestion, and even offers beauty benefits. After trying it a few times, you’ll find it truly remarkable—the taste is mild, long-lasting, and complex, and it’s especially suitable for the palates of the elderly and children.

　　Today, Oil Cake & Rice Cake and Thin Bean Paste continue to enrich the lives of Zhaotong people each day, making their days more hopeful, flavorful, and enjoyable.