HOW TO SURVIVE CHENGDU’S SICHUAN HOTPOT!
Locals in Chengdu love their hotpot. In fact, the spicier the better! This is not just about being brave but it’s also about trying something interesting. Chengdu hotpot can be quite crazy for travellers with a weaker digestive system, so here are a few things you can prepare yourself before experiencing such adventurous cuisine.
Before you eat…
The real problem comes from the oil and spice. Unless you drink a few tablespoons of oil everyday your body won't be happy with hotpot in Chengdu. Just to be careful you'll probably want to get something to help with digestion. Many convenient stores sell high fibre cookies and pro-biotic yogurt. Eat or drink these things before your hotpot experience.
Seasoning options…
Avoid the oil and spice seasoning. You'll have options for “dipping sauce” - youdie (油碟), gandie (干碟), and maybe some others.
The first one, youdie, is oil. Literally, Chengdu people dip meat in oil and eat it. Even if it sounds good to you, your stomach won't think so. The next one is gandie, which are just a few dried spices. For those who like something spicy this is the spiciest thing you'll find at hotpot. Your best bet is actually to avoid both of these or use as little as you can.
Let it COOK!
You'll be pulling food out from a boiling pot. It is really important to let things cook! Also take things out from the middle where the bubbles will push the oil aside, kind of like a cleaning off. This really helps to avoid too much oil and spice.
If you can’t take the heat, reduce it…
Most hotpot places nowadays also offer a pot with two flavour options (like a pot within a pot). Ask for qingtang, it’s basically clear soup based. Another safe option is mushroom flavour. There are many wonderful exotic mushrooms in Sichuan cuisine that can't be found elsewhere.
To actually feel full…
One thing that people who are not used to hotpot feel strange about is the absence of any starch. You will probably feel like you could eat hotpot all day and never get full. This is because your body needs some bread or rice to give you a full feeling. Usually Chinese people only ask for this at the end, but don't be afraid to ask for it up front. If you get rice at the beginning then the rice will absorb some of the oil and strong flavours. There is also a kind of bread you can ask for called feibing. Munch on that to help your body understand that you are actually having a meal.
Northern-style hotpot…
If you are invited to have a hotpot in their home, try requesting for a Northern-style hotpot or Mongolian-style hotpot. It is still hotpot, but without as much of the spice and oil. You can save yourself from an overly taxed gall bladder.
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