Sichuan Xiao Chi

It's a bit of a lengthy post this one.  The Chinese have a wonderful name for snacks 'xiao chi', or little eat, and Sichuan is famous for them, whether it's small bowls of noodles, dumplings, breads or fried things.  Here's a selection of the xiao chi I ate in my few days there.  It's nearly the end for Sichuan on here so fans of the cuisine should lap it up while they can.

Noodles

On top of the dan dan mian and tian shui mian I also had.

Cold rice noodles with vinegar - much like a salad dressing the black vinegar and chili oil really lifts the rice noodles, cucumber (quite nice in this dish) and torn tofu.  Available all over the place and a fine packed lunch for a train journey.

Sea flavoured noodles - seafood broth with pork and mussels.  Had some quite challenging, unidentified wobbly things in it.  Nice enough though.

Strange Flavoured Noodles - meat, mushrooms and red, strange flavoured liquid

Unknown noodle - can't remember what this one tasted like, seem to remember it not being a favourite though

Unknown beef noodle - melt in the mouth meat and spicy broth

Yellow Jelly Noodle - almost jelly like noodle, probably made with rice flour or maybe yellow beans, with a centimetre square cross section.  Served cold with lots of chili to spice them up.

Crescent Dumplings

These dumplings are quite mildly flavoured, with just a hint of ginger really.  The main flavour tends to come from what they sit in.

Red Oil - the standard serving, a load of dumplings in lots of fiery chili oil

 

and a second serving, this time with a little bok choi

With Seaweed and Mushrooms - the bite of the seaweed and mushroom added welcome texture to the soft dumplings

Other Dishes

Just a random selection.

An onion bhaji like thing, with both onion and grated pumpkin, but without the spices.  These were eaten many an afternoon.

Baozi - freshly steamed and breakfast most days

Five Spiced Quail - a quail on a stick.  What more could you want from a street stall?

Flatbread with egg - a layered bread, chewy and slightly oily, with some egg for protein.  Tasty.

Sichuan Barbecue - anything on a stick cooked over charcoal, given a healthy paint brushing of chili oil before serving

Spring Onion Spring Rolls - a flatbread filled with spring onion and tofu, wrapped like a spring roll then griddled till crisp.  Also available with a spiced potato filling, al dente of course.

Sticky Rice and Peanut - cut from a big lump of glutinous rice then chopped and coated with peanut.  Soured by the vendor overcharging.

Unknown Fried Doughballs - like donuts on a stick, just a bit chewier and with a sticky glaze

 

Cakes and Biscuits - they love 'em in China too

 

Mini Vienetta On A Stick - not really xiao chi, or Chinese for that matter, but kitch goodness nonetheless

Comments

[drfugawe]

wonderful stuff - many thanks.

[Lizzie]

Like you, I love Sichuan food so I've really enjoyed this post!