Contrary to what one might think upon hearing the name of the dish, lion's head is a meal consisting of big pork meatballs that are stewed with noodles and vegetables such as cabbage. It dates back to the times of the Sui Dynasty, when Emperor Yang took a trip to Yangzhou and made his chefs prepare a dish that was inspired by the Yangzhou landscapes, which he loved.
The meatballs looked similar to the Chinese guardian lion's head, so the name stuck until today. In China, there are two versions of the dish - one is served in a rich, brown sauce (Zhenjiang variety), and the other in a lighter broth (Yangzhou variety).
MOST ICONIC Shizitou
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Beef balls are Chinese food items made with finely pulverized beef and other types of ground meat, such as pork. The tiny tendons in each ball will dissolve during the process of slow cooking. Because the meat in beef balls is pulverized and not ground, it results in a much smoother texture than in regular meatballs.
In Hong Kong, beef balls are usually mixed with wonton noodles, and they are also a popular addition to hot pot dishes.
MOST ICONIC Niúwán
View morePork ball is a Chinese meatball consisting of ground pork and starch, while cuttlefish is sometimes added to the combination in order to add flavor and impart a chewy texture to the meatballs. These chewy meatballs are popular in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand.
In Taiwan, pork balls are usually served in a soup known as gongwan tang, and in the Taiwanese city of Hsinchu, there is an annual festival dedicated solely to these delicious meatballs.
MOST ICONIC Gòng wán
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