Three Treasures of the Grassland

Three Treasures of the Grassland

　　The Gannan Plateau, located in southern Gansu, features a high-altitude, cold, and humid climate with lush vegetation and abundant rare flora and fauna, which serve as key food sources for the local people. The Tibetan people of Gannan use locally available ingredients such as caterpillar fungus, mushrooms, gypsophila, and Tibetan snowcocks to prepare dishes like “Caterpillar Fungus Stewed Snowcock,” “Mushroom Stewed Lamb,” and “Gypsophila Rice.” Each dish has its own unique color, aroma, flavor, and texture—delicious and highly nutritious. These are honored as the “Three Treasures of the Grassland.”

　　“Caterpillar Fungus Stewed Snowcock” is a fine summer dish. The fungus roots are collected, peeled, and cooked together with snowcocks caught near the snow line, along with a small amount of astragalus and appropriate seasonings, resulting in a broth that is rich in flavor and aromatic. “Mushroom Stewed Lamb” is another summer delicacy. Tender “Oula sheep” or “Ganja sheep” meat from the Henmuqu area of Xiahe County is cut into small pieces and simmered with D-shaped mushrooms from Meiren Township in Xiahe County, yielding a deeply flavorful dish that is neither gamy nor greasy, and is endlessly enjoyable. “Gypsophila Rice” is a common household dish for the Tibetan people of Gannan, also known as “Tibetan cuisine.” It is a high-nutrition meal made with gypsophila, rice, butter, lamb, sugar, and seasonings, and is an essential dish served to guests in Tibetan households.