Originating from Cantonese cuisine, zhaliang refers to traditional Chinese deep-fried crullers wrapped in silky and almost translucent rice sheets. Similar to the plain cruller, zhaliang is commonly served for breakfast, but it is often a part of traditional Cantonese dim sum meals.
It is accompanied by a unique, slightly sweetened soy-based sauce, which can be incorporated into the dish or served on the side. Zhaliang should always be freshly prepared, so the crullers do not lose their crunchy and soft texture. For easier consumption, they are served cut into bite-sized pieces and garnished with sesame seeds and sliced scallions.
"My favorite on the table was steamed rice roll with fried dough, or zhaliang. Think cruller dough turned savory without the sugar, wrapped in a huge, thin noodle and smothered in a sweet soy sauce. This can be hard to get your head around, but is delicious. The skin was tender and dough fresh here. Eat it fast before it gets cold."