Beijing Fried Dough Rings (焦圈)
Dinner @ '海碗居' [www.haiwanjv.com/default.aspx], a very traditional Beijing 'Zhajiangmian' (炸酱面) restaurant.
(This photo was taken with an iPhone and so the quality suffered unfortunately - phones are not cameras)
Fermented soybean drink is usually paired up with this fried dough ring. Think a doughnut fried till very crunchy for Americans, a circular Churros for Spanish and a fried doughstick (Youtiao '油条') fried too crispily for Chinese.
One takes a bite of this slightly oily and extremely crunchy snack, takes a few chomps and then drink a few mouthful of the fermented soybean drink. The perfect pairing and the way how Beijingers love.
I really found the fermented soybean drink on its own too odd for my liking but the thick milkiness and the tanginess of the drink actually works to dissipate the slight oiliness of these rings and once paired up in the mouth, it was way much better to enjoy both dishes. I can imagine why the locals love the combo.
Beijing Fried Dough Rings (焦圈)
Dinner @ '海碗居' [www.haiwanjv.com/default.aspx], a very traditional Beijing 'Zhajiangmian' (炸酱面) restaurant.
(This photo was taken with an iPhone and so the quality suffered unfortunately - phones are not cameras)
Fermented soybean drink is usually paired up with this fried dough ring. Think a doughnut fried till very crunchy for Americans, a circular Churros for Spanish and a fried doughstick (Youtiao '油条') fried too crispily for Chinese.
One takes a bite of this slightly oily and extremely crunchy snack, takes a few chomps and then drink a few mouthful of the fermented soybean drink. The perfect pairing and the way how Beijingers love.
I really found the fermented soybean drink on its own too odd for my liking but the thick milkiness and the tanginess of the drink actually works to dissipate the slight oiliness of these rings and once paired up in the mouth, it was way much better to enjoy both dishes. I can imagine why the locals love the combo.