Yak rib hot pot

Yak rib hot pot

　　Lijiang yak rib hot pot

　　　　Walking out of Lijiang Ancient Town to Xiangshan Market, you’ll find many stalls of all sizes. The whole street is lined with yak rib hot pot restaurants, with entire walls hung with ribs — a truly spectacular sight. Small pots cost 60 yuan and large ones 80 yuan, both coming with lots of side dishes, so you usually don’t need to order anything extra.

　　Lijiang yak ribs are made from pork ribs, cured with a large amount of salt, and sometimes with additional ingredients like wine, sugar, and spices. They are placed in wooden barrels that allow drainage and cured for about 15 days. By then, the salt has deeply penetrated the marrow, and the flavors of the bone and meat have melded together, with much of the moisture drawn out. At this stage, the meat’s aroma is still not fully developed. After the salt curing, the ribs are taken out and air-dried in a shaded, ventilated place for a period ranging from one to three months, after which their flavor becomes truly “preserved.” High-quality yak ribs should be dry and firm, yellowish with a red tint, shiny in color, free of mold spots, and emit a faint meaty fragrance.

　　Preparation method

　　Ingredients: cured yak ribs　Accompaniments: bean sprouts, tomatoes, celery, leek roots

　　Seasonings: chicken bouillon, pepper, salt

　　Method:

　　1. Unwrap the ribs and give them a quick rinse in warm water. There’s no need to blanch them, as the ribs are already seasoned.

　　2. Steam the rinsed ribs in a steamer until they are about 80% cooked. Those in a hurry can also use a pressure cooker.

　　3. Set aside the cooked ribs and prepare a clay pot or soup pot. Add a small amount of chicken bouillon, pepper, and salt to the bottom of the pot — adjust to taste, though personally I suggest skipping the salt.

　　4. Next, prepare the base of the pot:

　　For the first layer of the base, add leek roots; if you don’t have leek roots, some bean sprouts will do.

　　For the second layer, add tomatoes.

　　For the third layer, add some celery.

　　5. Finally, add the freshly prepared cured yak ribs, then pour in rib broth, chicken stock, or even plain boiling water. Simmer over low heat, and your delicious yak rib hot pot is ready. You can then add various vegetables according to your taste — and you’re all set.