Taiwanese meatballs
肉圆
Average price: 6 yuan
均价:6元
Places: Central Taiwan
美食地:台湾中部
When it comes to Taiwanese meatballs, Tsai Zhang-yu (蔡宗余)can’t hide his pride and excitement, because it’s what the 19-year-old’s hometown, Changhua, is best known for. The dish is a fried ball of minced pork wrapped inside a translucent, glutinous shell made of rice and sweet potato flour. Inside the meatball is a mixture of bamboo shoots and mushrooms, and the whole snack is served with a sweet chili sauce. “When it’s cut into pieces, the meat juices flow out and mix with the sweet chili sauce. It tastes great,” Tsai says.
说起肉圆,蔡宗余难掩自豪与激动之情,这位19岁男孩的家乡——彰化正是因为这种美食而著名。肉圆是由糯米、甘薯粉制成半透明的黏糯外皮,将猪肉馅包裹成球后煎炸而成。肉馅中还会放入笋尖与蘑菇,并在外面淋上甜辣酱。蔡宗余说,“切开肉圆时,里面的汤汁就会流出来,和外面的甜辣酱混在一起。实在是太好吃了。”