🌱 Spring is here, and in the beautiful province of Guizhou in southwest China, people are celebrating with a delicious traditional dish called Shefan (pronounced “sheh-fahn”)! 😋
Every March, when the weather gets warmer, residents of Yuping Dong Autonomous County gather wild vegetables like sweet wormwood and wild onions that grow all over the fields and roadsides. These fresh ingredients are essential for making Shefan, a special dish that’s been around since ancient times!
Shefan is more than just a tasty treat—it’s a way for ethnic groups like the Han, Tujia, Miao, and Dong to welcome spring and share hopes for a good year ahead. The main ingredients include glutinous rice (that’s sticky rice!), preserved meat, soybeans, peanuts, and lots of yummy veggies. 🌾🥜🥬
The process of making Shefan is exciting! Locals first wash the wild vegetables carefully. Then, they chop up firewood-smoked dried tofu and preserved meat into small cubes. The cooking starts by frying peanuts and soybeans in a big iron pot over a crackling fire. Next, they add the tofu and meat, which sizzle and smell amazing! 🔥
After that, the fresh vegetables like sweet wormwood, wild onions, greens, and garlic sprouts are mixed in, filling the air with a wonderful aroma. The mixture is steamed for about half an hour, and when the lid is lifted, the delicious Shefan is ready to be enjoyed! 🍲✨
By making Shefan, the people of Yuping are not only enjoying a scrumptious meal but also expressing their love for spring and their joy for life. Isn’t it amazing how food can bring people together and celebrate the seasons? 🌸❤️
Reference(s):
Guizhou residents prepare traditional spring delicacy Shefan
cgtn.com
