Old Crow Head

Old Crow Head

　　A common home-style snack from the Guanzhong region. People in Guanzhong love wheat-based foods, with a wide variety of styles, and “Old Crow Head” is one of the more unique ones. In fact, it should be written as “老鸦脎” (Lǎowāsá), which is how locals pronounce it. This noodle-like food resembles the head of a crow — slightly pointed at both ends and thicker in the middle.

　　Preparation: Mix flour with an appropriate amount of cold water to form a thick paste. Then, use chopsticks to scoop small portions directly into boiling water. Once all are added, cook until done, then serve with various vegetables and seasonings. It can also be considered a member of the “Baidiao” (spoon-pulled noodle) family, and some people simply call it Baidiao. The most distinctive feature of Old Crow Head is its irregular shape. Though makers can try to control the size somewhat, they usually come out differently; eating a bowl feels like having a soup of a hundred crow heads. If shaped skillfully and served with colorful seasonal vegetables, fish, or seafood, it not only satisfies your taste buds but also delights the eyes.

　　Old Crow Head can be prepared in many ways. It can be made into a soup, eaten like dry noodles mixed with vegetables and seasonings just like Beijing’s Zhajiangmian (noodles with soybean paste), or stir-fried — known as Stir-Fried Old Crow Head. When stir-fried, different vegetables and seasonings are added according to taste preferences. No matter how it's cooked, it always remains particularly chewy and satisfying.

　　Old Crow Head is not difficult to make. Ingredients can range from simple to complex, basic to high-end, so it is enjoyed and often eaten in many parts of both urban and rural Guanzhong. However, making it well is not easy. If you prepare premium flour and top-quality seafood, and have an experienced cook prepare it carefully, it can become a unique dish sure to impress guests with its delightful presentation. Hanzhong also has a similar food called “Chicken Head,” though it’s known as “Jinǎoké.” The Qing Dynasty writer Yuan Mei mentioned “Mian Laoshu” (noodle mice) in his book *Suiyuan Shidan*, describing them as “dough scooped with chopsticks into boiling chicken broth, in all sizes, served with fresh greens for a unique flavor.” This is in fact referring to what people in Shaanxi call “Old Crow Head” or “Chicken Head.” Old Crow Head, simply put, is a dish where dough portions are scooped with chopsticks into boiling water, varying in size, and served with vegetables.

　　Features: Chewy and refreshing, suitable for all ages. Rich in diverse nutrients, it serves both to nourish and satisfy hunger.