 Duck blood and green bean noodle soup, a very similar dish | |
| Alternative names | 鸭血粉丝汤 |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | China |
| Region or state | Nanjing |
| Main ingredients | Duckblood,Chinese vermicelli |
Duck blood and vermicelli soup (Chinese:鸭血粉丝汤) is a traditional delicacy ofNanjing, capital ofJiangsu province, and is also eaten in other regions of China. A similar dish is eaten in Poland, Belarus, and Lithuania, where it's calledczernina.[1]
Duck blood andvermicelli soup is a traditional delicacy inNanjing. It is said that once there was a poor man in Nanjing. He killed a duck and used a bowl to hold the duck's blood, but accidentally dropped some vermicelli into the bowl. He cooked them together and surprisingly found that the soup was delicious. A rich man heard the story and employed the poor man to cook the dish for his family. The soup has been popular ever since.[2]
Duck blood, vermicelli, dried friedtofu, dried small shrimp, duck gizzards, duck intestines, duck livers,scallion, andcoriander are used to make the soup.[2] Nanjing people also like to add chili oil and vinegar to the soup base.
Authentic duck blood and vermicelli soup is cooked with more than twentyChinese herbal medicines. Some of those who prepare it this way believe that these ingredients promote blood circulation, remove toxins and maintain beauty, as well as aiding digestion and warming the stomach.[3]
The main ingredient, vermicelli, is made of sweet potato. It is smooth, soft, waxy and tasty. Other key ingredients are duck blood, dried fried tofu, dried small shrimp, duck gizzards, duck intestines, and duck livers. Salt, shallots, gingers, sesame oil and caraway are common seasonings.
