Ti-huih-ko or pig's blood cake is an unusual Taiwanese street food item made by coating sticky rice in pig's blood, steaming or frying the combination, basting it in a slightly sweet pork soy broth, rolling the whole combination in peanut flour, and finally topping the whole thing off with coriander.
The dish, which looks like a weird popsicle, is praised for being unique both in its texture and flavor. The final result is something of a cross between mochi and a rice cake. The flavors are porky, sweet, salty, and spicy due to the unusual combination of ingredients.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Tian bu la are Taiwanese fish cakes made with a thick paste which incorporates mild white fish fillets, eggs, and potato or tapioca flour. The generously seasoned mixture is piped directly in the sizzling oil, then deep-fried until golden brown.
The fish cakes are usually shaped in long and thin cylindrical forms, but they are sometimes flattened into thick, round discs. Even though they can be eaten immediately after frying, the Taiwanese traditionally boil them on low heat in a soy-sauce-based broth, which allows the crispy skin to soften, and the cake to infuse with all the pungent broth flavors.
If it is served as a crispy treat, it is usually skewered and enjoyed as a snack on the go.
Turkey rice is a simple Taiwanese dish which incorporates shredded turkey meat served over plain boiled rice. Next to tender pieces of steamed turkey and rice, the dish is traditionally topped with soy sauce-flavored drippings and it is usually accompanied by daikon radish.
Turkey rice originated in the Taiwanese province of Chiayi as a frugal and straightforward meal that has quickly become one of the most famous dishes in the country. It is usually enjoyed as a late night snack and can be found at many street food stalls and traditional Taiwanese markets.
The primary ingredients of the soupy snack known as tà-á-mī noodles or danzi noodles are thick Chinese wheat noodles, shrimp-flavored broth, minced pork, pork sauce, and a single cooked shrimp that sits on the top. A few spices and the amount of ingredients added are kept a secret by vendors and restaurants, creating an air of mystery around the classic snack.
Created in 1895 by a local fisherman as a means to earn a living in the off-season, the noodles were carried on shoulder poles on the streets of a small Taiwanese town, giving them the name tà-á-mī or shoulder pole noodles.
MOST ICONIC Tà-á-mī
Even though Taichung City offers many signature eats and unique spins on local fare, one of its specialties and most notable standouts is the suncake or tai yang bing. Traditionally prepared since the Qing dynasty era, this delicious Taiwanese flaky pastry filled with gooey, buttery maltose paste is a treat found in every bakery shop in Taichung.
It is even sold as a souvenir, pre-packed in attractive gift boxes. An interesting combination of flavors and textures, the round-shaped Suncakes are most often sweeter than honey and their thick, caramel-like filling perfectly contrasts the dry flakiness of the floury, paper-thin layers of phyllo dough.
This Taiwanese street food specialty consists of a small pork sausage placed within a larger, sticky rice sausage, which is then grilled. Resembling a classic hot dog, this sausage within a sausage can be complemented by a great variety of accompaniments and condiments including salted vegetables, pickled cabbage, pickled cucumbers, garlic, wasabi, sweet chili sauce, thick soy sauce, peanut powder, cilantro, and basil.
The dish is commonly sold at Taiwan’s night markets.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Dried radish omelet is a traditional dish consisting of beaten eggs combined with dried daikon radishes. The mixture of eggs, finely chopped dried radishes, and green onions is usually fried in a wok until lightly browned on both sides. The dried radishes are briefly stir-fried before they are added to the beaten egg mixture for a more aromatic dish.
Light and fragrant, dried radish omelet is a typical Taiwanese breakfast meal, usually eaten alongside rice porridge. Sun-dried daikon radishes, one of the main ingredients of this dish, are sold in numerous Asian markets and are often used in Taiwanese and Chinese cuisines.
OTHER VARIATIONS OF Omelet
An ancient Chinese delicacy eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival or Moon Festival, known as mooncake, is a pie-like pastry made with a shortcrust base called yueh ping that is traditionally filled with black sesame seed or lotus seed paste, along with red beans, roasted pork, mung beans, dates, and salted duck egg yolks.
Nowadays, mooncakes are available in a variety of different sweet and savory fillings, some of which are fruits like honeydew, litchi or pineapple; chocolate or mixed nuts; abalone and seaweed; green tea, and even cream cheese or ice cream. Their round shape is not only reminiscent of the moon, but also a symbol of return or a full circle, which in Chinese philosophy stands for fulfillment, oneness, perfection, and unity.
VARIATIONS OF Yuebing
A-gei is a Taiwanese savory delight consisting of a large fried tofu pouch filled with braised mung bean glass noodles, and with its opening secured with a type of fish paste called surimi. The tofu pouch is quite juicy as it absorbs much of the pork stew in which it is cooked.
Dubbed as an original creation from 1965, invented by the owner of Ah-Gei, a very old eatery in Tamsui, this Taiwanese specialty got its name from the Japanese word abuurage, referring to deep-fried tofu pockets. It is typically served immersed in a soy-based sauce or a sweet-sour sauce.
An original creation from Tamsui District, thih-nn̄g or iron eggs are dark-hued eggs with a rubbery and firm texture, hence the name. This local specialty consists of chicken, pigeon, or quail eggs that are boiled and peeled, stewed with a blend of spices until very hard and chewy, and then finally air-dried.
Iron eggs are typically braised in soy sauce or strong tea and can be plain or enhanced with a variety of herbs and different flavors such as chili or garlic. With a combination of spicy, sweet, and savory flavors, these stewed eggs are one of Taiwan’s favorite street snacks available at numerous night markets.
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