Rough Introduction:
The Lard Net Roll is a traditional, complex, and nearly lost dessert from Changzhou. It consists of red bean paste wrapped in a pork lard net, coated in an egg-white batter, and deep-fried. The result is a crispy exterior and a sweet interior. As the lard melts during frying, it creates a unique hollow, honeycomb-like structure, making the roll rich, sweet, fragrant, and surprisingly light. It is the legendary finale to banquets in the memory of older Changzhou generations.
Skill & Heritage: The Lard Net Roll is acclaimed as “the dessert that most tests a chef’s skill in Changzhou.” Its preparation technique is a benchmark for measuring the skill of a Huaiyang cuisine pastry chef. It is nearly lost because its process is extremely complex and experience-dependent. Step 1: Preparation – A fresh, intact pork lard net (the webbed fat from a pig’s abdomen) is laid flat. Step 2: Filling – The red bean paste must be ground extremely fine and be oily and moist, not dry. Step 3: Wrapping – The bean paste is rolled into a strip, tightly wrapped in the lard net, and the seam must be skillfully sealed to prevent leakage. Step 4: Coating – It is coated in a “snow clothing batter” made from egg whites and starch whipped repeatedly; the batter’s consistency directly affects the final shape. Step 5: Frying – Requires precise low-temperature control for gentle immersion frying, allowing the exterior to form a light golden crispy shell while the internal lard net melts from heat, creating space for the expanding batter to form the signature hollow, honeycomb-like structure.
Flavor & Significance: The finished product is plump and light golden-yellow. Upon tasting, the slight crispness of the exterior contrasts sharply with the ethereal hollow interior. The sweetness of the fine red bean paste intertwines with the rich, lingering aroma left by the melted lard, creating a uniquely “rich” sweetness that is miraculously non-greasy. It is not only a gustatory delight but also a piece of “culinary art” that showcases the refinement and sophistication embedded in Changzhou’s traditional banquet culture.
发表回复