Henan cuisine

Henan cuisine, also known as Yu cuisine, has the accolade of being one of China's most traditional and oldest cooking styles. As the representative of culinary civilization of Central China, Henan cuisine has preserved traditions and made great innovations.

With ingredients from all over the country, Henan cuisine is characterized by meticulous preparation and is especially known for delicious soup. No matter whether a dish is prepared by frying, stewing, braising or boiling, it is well received by customers because of its taste, shape, aromas and container. It is moderately sweet and salty, tender and palatable, crispy but not fragmentary.

Henan cuisine is mainly represented in Luoyang and Kaifeng. The Gulou Night Market in Kaifeng which started in the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) is crowded with people every evening. Luoyang has a good selection of the varieties of Henan cuisine and the best way to sample them is by settling in for the night with some friends and the many courses of the water banquet. The Luoyang Water Banquet (Luoyang Shuixi) is a local custom that has been around for over a thousand years.

The Shaolin Vegetarian Food is one specialty standing out among the varieties of Henan cuisine. Chinese Buddhist belief has for centuries prohibited the eating of animal flesh and the monks here have spent an age perfecting the cooking of all types of vegetarian food. Although not rich in fat or protein, this cuisine is packed full of nutrition and is healthy.

Famous dishes and snacks include Peony and Swallow Vegetable, Fried Purple Crisp Pork, Lightly Fried Bean Curd, Jadeite Shredded Fish, Scallion Stewed Sea Cucumber, Fruit Juice and Shrimps, Stuffed Bun Steamed in Small Bamboo Utensils, Sweet and Pleasant Buns, Egg Cakes (which are crisp outside and tender inside), Steamed Ravioli, Hand-stretched Noodles and Braised Cakes.