At the table
Eat the tofu and sprouts with a spoon or chopsticks, and sip the broth. Let a hot tofu puff cool before biting; it holds broth inside. Ask for chili sauce separately if you want to control the heat.
Contains soy and chicken stock; omitting visible chicken does not make it vegetarian. Some versions add other stock ingredients or chili sauce. Confirm the particular broth and condiments if you avoid an ingredient.
Soft tofu puffs absorb a savory chicken broth, while soybean sprouts add a fresh, crisp-tender contrast; a small portion is easy to share once it cools.
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.
Bamboo shoots and spices in the chicken stock vary by recipe. Some preparations add chicken shreds, while chili sauce may be added at serving.
Typical ingredients
Recipes vary by restaurant.
How does it taste?
Savory chicken broth soaking into fried tofu, with mild freshness from soybean sprouts; seasoning varies.
- Chili heat
- Texture
- Soft, broth-swollen fried tofu puffs with crisp-tender soybean sprouts.
- How it’s made
- Simmer fried tofu puffs in seasoned chicken stock until soft and infused. A named chicken-stock version includes soybean sprouts and may be finished with shredded chicken; seasoning varies by preparation.
Bamboo shoots and spices in the chicken stock vary by recipe. Some preparations add chicken shreds, while chili sauce may be added at serving.
A CONNECTION TO PLACE
Origin & regional roots
Associated with Jiangsu.
About this regional connection
Jiangsu: Associated with Nanjing snack and home cooking; not an exclusive-origin monopoly.
Ask if they have it first
请问你们有鸡汁回卤干吗？
Do you have this item?
A LITTLE SOMETHING TO READ
Story & history
Nanjing’s broth-soaked tofu snack
Nanjing’s chicken-stock hui-lu-gan is a snack made by slowly simmering fried tofu puffs in stock prepared ahead. Their porous centers hold the broth, while soybean sprouts give a different bite. The tofu is the focus, but its chicken broth means the bowl is not vegetarian.