Yang Rou Men Bing (Braised Mutton with Flatbread)
The Ultimate Silk Road Stew! Fluffy rice cake inhaled with all the flavors of sheep
Description
A beloved regional dish from the Silk Road oasis city of Dunhuang. Mutton is braised with spices into a meltingly soft stew. The pot is then 'sealed' with a lid of thinly rolled wheat dough (Bing). The dough steams fluffy from the meat vapors, unifying the staple carb and the main dish into one masterpiece.
Restaurants serving Yang Rou Men Bing (Braised Mutton with Flatbread)
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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
- Bone-in mutton
- Wheat flour
- Onion
- Star anise
- Cinnamon
- Cumin
- Soy sauce
- Dried chilies
Instructions
- [Authentic Recipe]
- (Mutton Braise) Chop bone-in mutton and blanch.
- Heat oil in a wok, fry the mutton, onion, ginger, dried chilies, star anise, cinnamon, and cumin until aromatic.
- Season with soy, dark soy, and salt. Flood with water and simmer on low for
- hour until the meat is tender (like a stew).
- (Dough) Knead wheat flour and water, rolling it into several thin discs (Bing).
- [The 'Men' Technique]: Once the meat is soft and the broth reduces by half, drape the thin dough discs directly over the meat, layering them to form a 'lid'.
- Close the wok lid tightly and braise/steam (Men) on low heat for 15-
- mins.
- The boiling mutton broth and fat turn into vapor, steaming the dough above into a fluffy, fiercely chewy cloud.
- Open the lid, chop the steamed dough into bite-sized pieces, toss heavily with the mutton and gravy below, and plate.
Learn more Spice, substitutes, tips
Key spices
Intense lamb fat umami、Star anise and cinnamon aroma
Substitutes at Japanese supermarkets
(Drape tortillas over a meat stew and steam with a lid)
Pairing
Chinese Tea(Jasmine etc.)
Trivia
[Trivia] 'Men' refers to braising/steaming with minimal liquid. It originated from Silk Road caravan merchants efficiently cooking their main dish and staple carb simultaneously in a single pot by boiling meat and draping dough over it.
Eating tips & etiquette
[Unique Eating] The true star is the dough (Bing) that has absorbed the mutton vapor to its absolute limit, rather than the meat. Scoop the chewy, udon-like dough pieces and the melting mutton together with a spoon. A perfectly complete meal requiring no extra rice or noodles.
Allergen
Wheat, Mutton, Soybeans, Wheat (Soy sauce)