Can't-miss Zhoukou food guide

Zhoukou, a prefecture-level city in Henan Province, is located in the eastern part of the Central Plains. It is a famous cultural city with a 6,000-year history of civilization. The cultural heritage here is as shining as stars. The confluence of Shahe, Yinghe and Jialu rivers looks like an ink painting. Zhoukou’s food culture is also rich and diverse.

1. **Dry-fried Panlong Eel**
- **Introduction**: Originated from Sundian Town, Xiangcheng, Zhoukou City, it is a traditional famous dish with good color, fragrance and taste. The main ingredient is dark brown raw yellow eel, which is cooked through soaking, blanching, frying, and stir-frying.
- **Features**: The whole eel is stewed in a hot casserole, then instantly stir-fried over a raging fire, like a dancing coiled dragon. Although the seasoning is simple, it can cleverly bring out the delicious taste of the eel. The sauce has a slightly sweet aftertaste, which makes people linger in the aftertaste.

2. **Taikang pork elbow**
- **Introduction**: As a specialty food in Zhoukou City, Taikang pork elbow is famous for its unique preparation method and taste.
- **Features**: The part of the pig leg near the pig's hand is chopped into a piece of elbow the size of an adult's fist. After stewing, the elbow skin is fat but not greasy, and the elbow meat is fragrant but not dry. Every bite is full of the mellow aroma of meat.

3. **Shenqiu Gujia Steamed Bun**
- **Introduction**: The specialty snacks of Xiawan Village in Shenqiu Old Town are mainly in the shapes of the twelve zodiac animals, fruits, insects and fish, each of which has its own unique appearance and taste.
- **Features**: The appearance is white and smooth, with Yin-Yang Bagua patterns on the bottom, which contains beautiful meanings. It has a solid and chewy texture and is a treasure of traditional dough sculpture art in Zhoukou area.

4. **Luyi Mahu**
- **Introduction**: A specialty snack in Luyi, Zhoukou, made with millet and soybeans as the main ingredients, ground into a fine paste.
- **Features**: Milky white in color, delicate and residue-free, smooth as fat, sweet and refreshing, as good as milk, hence the name Ma Hu. The addition of fried dough sticks and soybean sauce is the finishing touch.

5. **Huaiyang Daylily**
- **Introduction**: Huaiyang has a long history of growing daylilies. It was famous as early as the Han Dynasty and became a tribute for pilgrimage.
- **Features**: The double-layered, six-petal, seven-core daylily is unique and precious. Whether it is fried or eaten cold, you can taste its unique delicious flavor and rich nutrition.

6. Xiaoyao Town Spicy Hot and Spicy Soup
- **Introduction**: Originated from Xiaoyao Town, Xihua County, Zhoukou City, Henan Province, it is one of the famous Chinese delicacies with excellent color, aroma and taste, and can sober up, refresh the mind, stimulate appetite and strengthen the spleen.
- **Features**: The authentic Hu La Tang only uses pepper instead of chili peppers, which is called "Hu Luan Spicy". Various spicy flavors are added together to form a unique flavor. It is better to eat with fried dough sticks, fried steamed buns, steamed buns, pan-fried buns, fried cakes, and meat dumplings.