(1) Favorite pasta
In the eyes of most people, Shanxi people are fond of pasta. That's true. It's an exaggeration to say that they have no shortage of food and no bread. Shanxi people's eating habit of eating noodles has a long history, which is formed under the background of natural conditions, historical origins and attacking forces. Shanxi has all kinds of food crops, with dozens of varieties. The north central part is rich in sorghum, millet (millet is sticky in the north of Taiyuan), sorghum, naked oats, buckwheat, rice, beans (including peas, black beans, mung beans, soybeans, adzuki beans, cowpeas, tea beans, lentils and broad beans), corn and shami. The south is rich in wheat, corn, millet and rice. These varieties of grain provide abundant food.
Thousands of wheaten food can be made through the ingenuity of peasant women. Pasta with various shapes is delicious and attractive. Many farmers, three meals a day are mainly pasta, or thick or thin, or dry or soup, thick and thin, coarse grains, refined in flour and rice, cooking skills are very rich. It is the farmers in the millet-rich areas who use rice as porridge or rice, and also mix it with pasta such as mixed soup and noodle soup. Add oil to the noodle soup, or add chopped green onion, or add tender buds of Toona sinensis. This kind of simple food can not only satisfy people's appetite, but also has a strong peasant atmosphere in the loess plateau, which makes people enjoy a kind of spiritual enjoyment. In the Pingchuan area of Jinzhong, almost all the lunches of farmers are pasta, such as noodles and noodles, which are picked or pulled, rolled or pressed, or brushed or rubbed, with their own characteristics.
Noodles are long and short, wide and narrow, thick and thin; The pulled pieces are thick and thin, big and small, soft and hard. It really makes people see things in a blur, as if they were in the kingdom of pasta. All kinds of pasta, together with toppings and condiments with local characteristics, make people feel that eating Shanxi pasta is really a kind of beautiful enjoyment. People with good living conditions pay attention to eating pasta within one month; Ordinary farmers eat miscellaneous noodles (sorghum noodles mixed with white flour, bean noodles, corn noodles, or sorghum noodles mixed with elm bark noodles are all called "miscellaneous noodles") and change their patterns every day. Yellow wheat cake and oat noodle in the northern region, and white flour steamed buns in the southern region have their own characteristics in both shape and taste.
Of course, Shanxi pasta is also appreciated by Tiaojian, Lamian Noodles, Daobo Noodles and Daoxiao Noodles, which are known as the "Four Famous Noodles in Shanxi". Among them, the popularity rate of picking tips is the highest, especially in Pingchuan, Jinzhong, where almost every peasant woman can pick tips with one hand. Miscellaneous noodles can be picked with the same thickness and length; White flour picking tips can be long or short, thick or thin. Thick is hollow and soft, thin is smooth and smooth. In Lamian Noodles, peasant women are known for their "small Lamian Noodles", which can be drawn into various shapes such as wide and narrow, round and flat, thick and thin and even triangular. It is such a single pasta (especially in the old society where materials were scarce) that it has become so colorful in the hands of hardworking and intelligent peasant women! The monotonous and tedious housework becomes poetic and beautiful by means of cooking, steaming, frying and baking!
(2) Old vinegar is famous
Shanxi folk people use a lot of vinegar in their meals, and this eating habit is well known. Shanxi's water is alkaline, and vinegar helps digestion of miscellaneous grains such as oat flour, sorghum, corn, potatoes and other high-heat and digestible foods. Shanxi people are called "old acyl", and Shanxi people can't do without vinegar for noodles, steamed buns, jiaozi, pies and stir-fried dishes (mostly). Otherwise, the cooked rice is not fragrant. Some residents in mountainous areas have the habit of replacing sauerkraut with sour soup. In the past, people in mountainous areas of Shanxi were poor and could not afford vinegar, so they could only cook with sour soup. Shanxi people want to make vinegar, and the vinegar pot and salt don't leave the table.
In the vast rural areas of Shanxi, almost every family has a set of experience in vinegar making, and there are one or two vats for vinegar making in the courtyard. Sorghum vinegar is brewed in Pingchuan area, and rice vinegar, jujube vinegar, persimmon vinegar vinegar and seabuckthorn vinegar are brewed by mountain residents, each with its own unique flavor. Used to reconcile meals or cooking dishes, vinegar has high nutritional value and has a certain therapeutic effect. Almost all parts of Shanxi have their own famous vinegar, among which "Shanxi Old Vinegar" has the best taste and can be called a good seasoning.
(3) Like spicy food In addition to salt and vinegar, the demand for spicy food by local residents is also considerable. People have always regarded green onions, leeks, peppers, garlic, peppers and even ginger as essential side dishes and cooking condiments. Wealthy families marinate white garlic and green peppers into pickles to accompany their meals, which residents call "fine pickles". This is also a delicacy for friends and relatives. Residents in north central China have the habit of eating with green onions and garlic directly. It is more common to chop up peppers and mix them with salt and vinegar. In some places, even every meal can't be separated from Chili noodles, which are mixed with salt to make side dishes.
They like spicy food, which is common in southern Shanxi, and Jinzhong area is the residents of Pingyao, Jiexiu, Lingshi and Fenyang counties. Among the spicy foods in Shanxi, the best quality ones are Jincheng Bagong scallion, Yingxian Xiaoshikou garlic, Daixian pepper, Hejin, Linfen leek, Pingshun, Yuxian pepper and so on. Ginger is generally imported from other places, and the demand among the people is also quite large. Zanthoxylum bungeanum is abundant in Shanxi. Wutai's Dahongpao Zanthoxylum bungeanum is very popular because of its red color and heavy taste. Pepper seeds can be pressed into oil and pepper leaves can be eaten as vegetables. Pepper can be used as both seasoning and food. Pickling and mixing, pickling salted peppers, mashing them after drying and frying them can stimulate appetite and strengthen the spleen. Baking and grinding noodles is the best seasoning for Yuncheng people to eat boiled steamed buns. Daixian pepper is famous in China for its oil, fat meat and spicy taste. Shanxi green onions and purple garlic are delicious, and pepper and fennel are also indispensable seasoning foods.
(4) Good wine
Excuse me, where is the restaurant? The shepherd boy points to Xinghua Village. Fenjiu in Xinghua Village, Shanxi Province has a brewing history of more than 1 years. It is known as "fairy wine", "jade liquid" and "nectar" with its crystal clear color, pure and long fragrance and delicious taste, and has become the pride of Shanxi people. There are also bamboo leaves that are "blue ashamed to recommend you, and bamboo wine is fragrant"; Changzhi Lu wine, which is "fragrant and Wan Li drunk in the middle of the mountain"; Qixian Liuqu fragrant wine with "Liuqu fragrance"; Puzhou mulberry wine, known as "a thousand miles away", is full of fragrance; Xinzhou Tequ liquor with a long aftertaste; Fenyan fragrant wine "drunken autumn geese go to Fentan"; Yuping wine in Xixian county, which can dispel wind, strengthen the body and improve intelligence; There are countless Yuanqu calamus wines that soothe the nerves, detoxify, refresh and improve eyesight.
Shanxi's eating habits
(1) Daily eating habits
Most areas in Shanxi have three meals a day, and some places such as Yangcheng have five or six meals a day. In the short season of winter leisure days, it is generally changed to two meals, which is called "one morning". Folks call a meal a meal. Breakfast is called "morning meal", lunch is called "noon meal" and "afternoon meal", and dinner is called "night meal". Generally, when doing heavy physical work, it is called "making a meal with cakes" between meals, and the common people also call it "moving to eat". Most breakfast in Jinzhong is porridge with corn flour, commonly known as "boiled bumps", and served with side dishes; In the southeast of Shanxi, eat more millet thick rice and shredded cold dishes for breakfast. Lunch is rich, eating noodles, cakes, steamed buns, plus potatoes, vermicelli, cabbage stew and pickles. Dinner is also prepared with soup-like miscellaneous pot rice, rice pasta and so on, but don't pay attention to eating more. The boiled water in southern Shanxi is Chili, which is also a very delicious meal.
In the spring and winter cold seasons, people in northern Shanxi always like to sit cross-legged on a hot kang when eating. Housewives sit in the pan and hold a spoon to serve the men and children well, and pick up the leftovers themselves to eat casually. The common saying is: "Be in front of people and eat after them". After eating a bowl of rice, if chopsticks are placed horizontally on the bowl, it means that you are full. If chopsticks are placed beside or held in your hand, you are not full. Some rural areas have the habit of standing on the street to eat in the warm season of summer and autumn. Every household Kazuhiro Mori bowls of rice walked out of the courtyard gate, or stood squatting at the door, or went to the street to grind the dishes and under the big trees, chatting and eating, and anecdotes and jokes were exchanged. For example, when farmers are busy harvesting and threshing, they often have the habit of carrying black pottery rice pots to send rice to the fields. If you can't send meals over a long distance, you can bring some dry food and dried vegetables to fill your hunger temporarily, which is called "fighting hunger."
(2) Etiquette exchanges
Shanxi people usually eat frugally, but when guests come, they will do their best to warmly entertain them. Set more meals at the dining table, the guests sit on the seats, and the host will accompany them. Generally, new bowls and chopsticks should be given to the guests, and drinking more alcohol before meals will add to the fun. The poor who serve food are two cool and one hot, four cool and one hot, four cool and four hot; Rich people eat hot pot in 66, 88, 1 seats and 1 seats.
after the host warms the wine, he fills the wine for the guest with a pot in both hands, which is called "seven meals and eight drinks". Guests should express their thanks by holding a cup: "I'll do it myself, I'll do it myself, you go first." The host raised his glass to propose a toast, and the guests took a sip to show their courtesy. During the dinner, the host frequently pointed out and changed the position of the dish, and enthusiastically advised the meal. Guests should pay attention to eating a mouthful of food and putting chopsticks once. If they continue to eat heavily, they will be regarded as "no feng shui" and "no courtesy and no education". Never eat until you finish your wine. In the past, Chinese food was white steamed buns, jiaozi and oil cakes. The steamed bun is served on the plate and placed in front of the guests. After eating, the guests put the chopsticks on the bowl and pushed them forward slightly to show that they are full. Treat each other with tea after dinner. When visiting relatives and friends, you must have homemade white buns and other foods, and avoid taking even numbers. If the owner doesn't stay, he will give back his own food or local products when he leaves. For weddings and funerals, the eating rules are more particular.
share the general banquet with the chairman, and the family members, aunts, uncles and cousins are the guests, and dinner cannot be served until the guests arrive. Hip flask, small handlebars and chopsticks should be placed before others. Sit down on the right, and be placed in the order of elders. In the old days, the square table sat on three sides, leaving one side unhappy and full. Such as weddings, housewarming, having children, opening stores, celebrating, celebrating birthdays, reuniting, getting a banquet, etc. In the past, the old people used to draw their fists gently and elegantly, such as singing and eulogizing beautifully and simply. When the wine reaches its climax, the host drinks with each guest in turn, which is called "playing customs clearance". Inviting people to dinner should be posted in advance or verbally invited at home. The common name is "An Ren", and special guests should be invited to meet them before dinner. Most farmers should distribute food to their neighbors after the wedding banquet, so as to enhance friendship.
Shanxi food culture accumulation
Shanxi's unique food and eating habits have formed a unique culture. As one of the birthplaces of the Chinese nation, since the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the northern and central parts of Shanxi have become one of the areas where people in the Central Plains and ethnic minorities live together. Due to the integration of ethnic groups and ethnic cultures, various customs have been gathered in Shanxi, and the food customs in Shanxi have become complex, diversified and complicated. At the same time, due to geographical, climatic, ethnic and other reasons, it has become a common practice for Shanxi people to eat whole grains. Millet, corn, buckwheat noodles, bean noodles, sorghum noodles, naked oats noodles, and many kinds of pasta structures make Shanxi people's food composition very colorful. These numerous food compositions, from the production methods, varieties, modeling, technology and cooking process, have become a kind of food culture spread in all walks of life and different corners of Shanxi. Formed a unique pasta culture in Shanxi, Jin cuisine culture, etc., with a long history and enduring prosperity, which has been circulated to this day.
The unique food culture not only reflects Shanxi's regional customs, but also shows Shanxi's simple folk customs. Pasta, aged vinegar and fine wine are the expressions of Shanxi people's love for life and their welcome to guests. Shanxi's unique diet is not only loved by local people, but also praised by people all over the country, especially pasta. In April 27, China Cuisine Association held an award ceremony in Beijing, which officially awarded Shanxi the title of "Hometown of China Pasta", and the award of "Hometown of China Pasta" clarified the origin, representativeness and uniqueness of Shanxi pasta.
Shanxi pasta culture is full of Shanxi's strong rural feelings and profound cultural charm. Its inheritance and development are of great significance to the times.
Shanxi specialty snacks
enema, scar cake, bowl tray, buckwheat noodles, bean curd, Xiaoyi Huoshao, Shouyang dried bean curd, etc.
Shanxi specialty pasta
Daoxiao Noodles, picking tips, wiping noodles, pulling slices, river leakage, fishing, cat ears, oat noodles, brains, touching slices, etc.