Description
A regional dish representing Yunnan, possessing an intensely impactful name: 'Da Jiu Jia' (Saving the Emperor's Life). Yunnan's special 'Er Kuai' (hard rice cakes pounded from non-glutinous rice) are sliced paper-thin into diamonds. They are flash-fried with pork, tomatoes, eggs, and spinach in a savory soy and slightly sour sauce. The ultimate chewy staple.
Restaurants serving Da Jiu Jia (Yunnan Stir-fried Rice Cakes)
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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
- Er Kuai(Yunnan rice cakes)
- Lean pork
- Ripe tomatoes
- Eggs
- Spinach
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Soy sauce
Instructions
- [Authentic Recipe]
- Slice 'Er Kuai' (Yunnan's staple hard rice cake) with a cleaver into paper-thin, translucent diamonds.
- Slice lean pork, marinate with salt and starch. Wedge ripe tomatoes, chop spinach. Beat eggs in a bowl.
- Heat generous lard in a wok. Scramble the eggs fluffy and remove.
- Add oil, fry pork until cooked. Add scallion, garlic, ginger for aroma.
- Dump in ripe tomatoes, frying on high to extract red tomato juice.
- Dump the paper-thin Er Kuai slices and spinach into the wok.
- Season with soy, salt, and optionally a touch of black vinegar.
- Toss violently on high heat to prevent the rice cakes from sticking.
- Once the rice cakes absorb the tomato juice, softening into a violent chew, and everything is crumbly, return the eggs, toss briefly, and serve.
Learn more Spice, substitutes, tips
Key spices
Fruity tartness of ripe tomatoes and depth of pork lard
Substitutes at Japanese supermarkets
Substitute with JP paper-thin Shabu-shabu Mochi or thinly sliced Tteokbokki
Pairing
Pu'er Tea / Qi Guo Ji(Alongside Steam Pot Chicken)
Trivia
[Trivia] At the end of the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Yongli nearly collapsed from starvation. A local farmer offered this dish. The Emperor praised it wildly, declaring, 'This dish saved my life!' The phrase became its official name.
Eating tips & etiquette
[Unique Eating] Scoop the rice cake, egg, tomato, and pork together with a spoon. It lacks the stringy stickiness of Japanese Mochi. Instead, it possesses a pleasant squeaky, chewy bite resembling al dente pasta. A complete meal offering perfect nutrition and volume.
Allergen
Pork, Eggs, Soybeans, Wheat