Ma Ren Tang / Qie Gao (Uyghur Nut & Fruit Nougat)
Jewelry Boxes Too Heavy! Huge tower of simmered silk road nuts
Description
A massive traditional confection piled high like a mountain on carts in Xinjiang Uyghur bazaars. Local specialties like walnuts, almonds, and raisins are bound rock-hard using grape syrup (or maltose). It is 'sliced and sold (Qie Gao)' by weight according to the customer's request.
Restaurants serving Ma Ren Tang / Qie Gao (Uyghur Nut & Fruit Nougat)
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On this site you can check dictionary details and, later, places to buy or eat related items.
The Recipe section below is a general reference, not a recipe from the listed shops.
Recipe
Ingredients
- Walnuts
- Almonds
- Cashews
- Peanuts
- Raisins
- Jujubes
- Grape syrup(or Maltose)
Instructions
- [Authentic Recipe]
- (Ingredients) Prepare a massive mountain of Xinjiang's premium walnuts, almonds, peanuts, and cashews. Roast until fragrant.
- Prepare Xinjiang green raisins, red raisins, and dried jujubes.
- (Syrup Magic) In a massive cauldron, boil natural 'Grape Syrup' (reduced grape juice) or maltose to an extreme, sticky consistency.
- Dump ALL the nuts and fruits into the boiling syrup (*Authentic Qie Gao has overwhelmingly more nuts than syrup).
- Pour into a giant wooden frame. Place heavy boards and stones on top to 'compress it under extreme pressure' until zero gaps remain, letting it cool and set overnight.
- The finished massive block is carted around and sliced to order with a giant cleaver.
Learn more Spice, substitutes, tips
Key spices
Intense Silk Road roasted nuttiness、Natural grape sweetness
Substitutes at Japanese supermarkets
(Bind mixed nuts with honey and corn syrup at home)
Pairing
Xinjiang Milk Tea / Strong Tea
Trivia
[Trivia] Invented as the 'ultimate preserved ration (calorie bar)' for Silk Road merchants traveling the desert for months. Because it's compressed, it is unusually heavy. Tourists often joke about getting 'sticker shock' when buying by weight because a small slice weighs so much.
Eating tips & etiquette
[Unique Eating] Because it is compressed, even a tiny slice feels as heavy as a brick. Biting it yields a 'crunchy, sticky' texture, exploding with the aromas of multiple roasted nuts and the intense sweetness of dried fruit. A single slice packs enough calories to save a stranded traveler.
Allergen
Walnuts, Peanuts, Cashews (Tree nuts)