At the table
Let a small portion cool before eating; the inside may be hotter than the surface.
Contains egg; fish and seafood may be present. Broth is not necessarily vegetarian.
Broth may contain fish or meat; accompaniments can include chicken, ham and seafood.
GET TO KNOW THE DISH
What goes into it?
Explore some key ingredients below. Preparations may use additional seasonings and ingredients.
Broth may contain fish or meat; accompaniments can include chicken, ham and seafood.
Typical ingredients
In some versions
Recipes vary by restaurant.
How does it taste?
Savory; seasoning varies.
- Chili heat
- Heat not recorded
- Texture
- Fine, shaped radish strands.
- How it’s made
- Coat radish shreds with mung-bean starch, steam, separate in water and steam again; serve with an egg flower and broth.
Broth may contain fish or meat; accompaniments can include chicken, ham and seafood.
A CONNECTION TO PLACE
Origin & regional roots
Associated with Henan.
Ask if they have it first
请问你们有洛阳牡丹燕菜吗？
Do you have this item?
A LITTLE SOMETHING TO READ
Story & history
A peony at the start of the water banquet
Peony yancai opens Luoyang’s traditional water banquet. Fine radish strands, coated with mung-bean starch and steamed, create a texture reminiscent of bird’s nest. In this presentation, a peony made from egg blooms in the center of the broth: an elaborate banquet dish built around an ordinary root vegetable.