Cui Mei Spicy and Sour Fish

Cui Mei Spicy and Sour Fish

　　Cui Mei Spicy and Sour Fish is a specialty dish from Dali, Yunnan. Dining on fish by the shores of Erhai Lake in Dali is truly a unique experience. The lake is fed by snowmelt from the surrounding mountains, and its pristine waters nurture especially tender Erhai fish. When freshly picked green plums still retain their vibrant color, the “Cui Mei Spicy and Sour Fish” — flavored with green plums and featuring chili as the main ingredient — is freshly made. The fruit acid balances the fishy taste, better preserving the texture and nutrients of the fish, which bears some similarity to the Western culinary practice of adding lemon slices when cooking fish.