After a long sunrise trek of the Great Wall, I found myself rather hungry, so we decided to stop at a nearby local restaurant/stall for breakfast. This was my first traditional taste of a Chinese breakfast. We asked what there was on the menu. The owner simply replied, “Congee” and “Miantiao.” Miantiao essentially means vegetable noodle soup. Congee (below) is a type of porridge found all over Asia. This got me thinking that breakfast wasn’t such an important meal in Beijing. People start their days very early so this meal is usually a matter of getting something quickly to fill their stomach till lunch time, a stark contrast with a full English breakfast in London or a stack of pancakes with two rashers of bacon in New York. Many Beijing Hotels will be able to give you a taste of everything in the morning during you china travel.
There is a wide variety of congee. However, it is essentially rice boiled in water, which turns white porridge. One can eat it with salted duck eggs, lettuce, dace (type of fish) paste, bamboo shoots, rousong (pork floss), pickled tofu or century eggs. The best condiments to have it with would be pepper or soy sauce. The dish can also be made from brown rice too. It is sometimes used as a cure for illnesses. The Chinese believe there is some therapeutic value to congee. It is also fed to young infants as a full meal. Congee is a popular dish in Malaysia, Portugal, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Portugal, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
To turn to a more exclusive Chinese breakfast dish, youtiao is also something one eats in the morning. It literally translates to ‘oil strip.’ Think of it as a Chinese donut or bread stick. They are long, golden-brown deep fried strips of dough. Lightly salted, they can thus be torn lengthwise into two. Youtiao (below) usually accompanies rice congee or soymilk. Another savory dish you can try at breakfast is doufu ru, or xiandoufu. This dish consists of pickled, fermented tofu. A very salty dish, so its best served with a bowl of pain rice.
Finally, for those who prefer something a bit more sweet in the morning, you have to give baozi a try. Baozi (below) is a type of steamed bread in the form of a bun. You can have it with just about anything. Sometimes it comes filled with minced meat or vegetable fillings. I personally love to dip it in soy sauce. Other times Ive tried bazoi, I’ve dipped it in honey and it is delicious.
So, if you’re ever in China and you are a fan of these dishes, or you simply want to experiment the local delights, give it a go. Go ahead and book your Beijing Flights to experience this unique culinary culture.
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