At the table
Take cooked pieces and a little broth from the shared pot into your own bowl.
The pot and broth can be very hot. Check chicken pieces for bones.
The layers vary: meats, vegetables, tofu and egg-wrapped dumplings can differ. Some versions include red pepper.
For children, choose soft pieces, check chicken for bones, and let the portion cool. Ask about chili in the actual serving.
Recipes vary. Ask the restaurant about ingredients and serving before you order.
GET TO KNOW THE DISH
What goes into it?
Explore some key ingredients below. Preparations may use additional seasonings and ingredients.
Fresh or fried tofu can be used. Some versions layer chicken and duck, while others arrange egg dumplings on top. Filling and layer choices vary.
Typical ingredients
Recipes vary by restaurant.
How does it taste?
Savory
- Chili heat
- Texture
- Tender simmered meat, soft tofu and egg-wrapped dumplings, with a different texture in each layer.
- How it’s made
- Layer chicken, ham, pork belly, bamboo shoots, fried tofu and egg dumplings; simmer with chicken-and-ham broth.
Fresh or fried tofu can be used. Some versions layer chicken and duck, while others arrange egg dumplings on top. Filling and layer choices vary.
A CONNECTION TO PLACE
Origin & regional roots
Associated with Anhui.
Ask if they have it first
请问你们有绩溪一品锅吗？
Do you have this item?
A LITTLE SOMETHING TO READ
Story & history
A shared pot for gatherings in Jixi
This account describes a tradition or story, rather than an established historical fact.
In Shangzhuang, Jixi, yipin guo is served at seasonal festivals and family rites such as weddings and funerals. The local scholar Hu Shi was fond of the layered pot and often served it to guests, including foreign visitors while he was China’s ambassador in the United States. It is also called “Hu Shi yipin guo.” The custom belongs to this part of Jixi; it is not a rule for every Huizhou table.
