Mizhi Donkey Intestine

Mizhi Donkey Intestine

　　Made from a whole donkey’s large intestine, the ingredient is thoroughly rinsed with vinegar water, then boiled until half-cooked in a pot of clear water. It is then removed and simmered in a spiced broth with soy sauce, chili peppers, Sichuan peppercorns, scallions, and ginger slices until tender. When served, it is cut into small pieces and topped with the original broth. The taste is numbing, spicy, salty, tender, and fragrant—an exceptional snack.

　　Characteristics of Mizhi Donkey Intestine: numbing, spicy, salty, tender, and deliciously aromatic.

　　Nutritional value of Mizhi Donkey Intestine: Donkey intestine and its products are high in protein. Moreover, the protein is a complete protein, containing all eight essential amino acids required by the human body in proportions close to those needed, offering high nutritional efficiency. Donkey intestine also contains fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals.

　　Donkey intestine is a famous local delicacy from Mizhi County, Yulin City, Shaanxi Province. It is not only tender, fragrant, and delightfully spicy, but also believed to have therapeutic benefits for nourishing yin and tonifying kidneys, making it very popular in the market. The character “板 (bǎn)” in the name means “whole piece,” referring to the entire large intestine of the donkey.

　　When enjoying Northern Shaanxi cuisine, don’t forget to pair it with a pot of Northern Shaanxi rice wine. This wine, made from soft glutinous millet, is sweet and tangy, helps cut through greasiness, warms the stomach, and is a great drink to accompany meals in winter.