Introduction to Ai Wo Wo
Ai Wo Wo is a traditional snack in Beijing, made of glutinous rice and featuring a halal flavor. Not only do Beijing locals love this snack, but even visitors from other parts of the country often want to taste it.
What are the product features of Aiwowo?The glutinous rice used for the outer skin of Ai Wo Wo Wo has already been steamed, and the filling is made by stir frying peach kernels, melon kernels, sesame kernels, and white sugar beforehand, so it can be eaten after being made. Therefore, the "Ode to Small Food in Yandu" says: "Ai Wo Wo, one of the foods sold by the Hui people, is steamed through extremely rotten rice, wrapped in various fillings when cold, and made into circular shapes with flour balls of different sizes depending on the price. It can be eaten cold. It is really white in color, spherical in shape, sticky and soft in texture, and has a sweet taste."How did the history of Ai Wo Wo Wo come about?
In the 23rd year of the Qianlong reign (1758), the Qing government cooperated with the suppression of the rebellion in Dahe and Zhuomu, and the Yiparhan family was called to the capital with the whole family in the 25th year. Yiparhan was summoned to the palace at the age of 26.
At first, she was conferred the title of Noble Lady, and later she was conferred the title of Consort Rong. Not only was she beautiful, but she also naturally emitted a fragrant aroma, which was highly favored by Emperor Qianlong, hence her name Xiangfei. Xiangfei was a Uyghur Muslim. In order to make Xiangfei happy, Qianlong highly respected her lifestyle and specially equipped a Uyghur chef named Nuimat in the palace to cook halal dishes for her. According to legend, before entering the palace, Empress Dowager Cixi was already a married woman. After entering the palace, Empress Dowager Cixi missed her husband very much and did not come in for tea and meals day and night, which greatly angered Emperor Qianlong. He quickly issued an order to the imperial kitchen: whoever can make the food that the Empress Dowager loves to eat will be rewarded with ten thousand taels of silver. The imperial chefs all want to receive generous rewards, enjoy famous cuisine, and showcase their unique skills. So, thousands of delicacies and flavors were made, but when they were brought into the palace, Xiangfei didn't even look at them. Helpless, Emperor Qianlong had no choice but to have Uyghur people prepare local food for Empress Dowager Xiang and bring it to the palace.
Method of making Ai Wo Wo
1. Steamed noodles: Put the flour into the steamer, boil the pot, and steam for 15 minutes.
2. Rolling out noodles: Steamed flour will dry and harden, so after the noodles have cooled down, you need to use a rolling pin to roll the noodles into small pieces and thin them.
3. Sugar filling: You just need to mix the steamed flour, white sugar, sesame seeds, and crushed walnut kernels together. Additionally, the hawthorn cake needs to be cut into small pieces.
4. Filling: Take a spoonful of rice, put it on top of flour and rub it back until the rice is completely covered with flour. Then press it flat and choose the thickness according to your preference. Wrap it with the freshly mixed sugar filling, then knead the edges together, and garnish with a small piece of sliced hawthorn cake on top. That's it, Ai Wo Wo Wo is ready.