The Scorch Of Sichuan: Unraveling The Secrets Of Sichuan Hot Pot's Spice

Sichuan hot pot is a popular dish in China, especially in the colder months. It is known for its intense spice and numbing sensation, which is known as mala. The spice comes from a combination of dried chilli peppers and Sichuan peppercorns, which are added to a broth of beef tallow or cooking oil, along with other spices and aromatics. The dish is typically served with raw meats and vegetables, which diners cook in the spicy broth themselves. It is often enjoyed as a social activity, with diners taking turns to add their chosen ingredients to the pot and then dipping them in a sauce before eating.

The history of Sichuan hot pot

Over time, the concept of the hot pot spread throughout China, with each region adapting it to their local ingredients and tastes. The first form of the hot pot appeared during the Shang and Zhou dynasties (c. 1600-256 BC), and the emergence of copper pots during the Three Kingdoms period (220-280 AD) is now considered the origin of the hot pot. During the Northern and Southern Dynasties (420-589), people began using hot pots to cook chicken and duck, and during the Yuan Dynasty, the Mongols further influenced the hot pot culture by adding beef and lamb.

The Sichuan hot pot, also known as Chengdu hot pot, is believed to have originated in the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty (1821-1851) in the city of Luzhou along the Yangtze River. Boatmen on the Yangtze River would cook their meals over a fire, using a tile jar to contain the water and various vegetables, along with hot peppers and Sichuan pepper to add flavour and dispel dampness. The dish then spread along the river to other wharfs and gained popularity.

Today, the Sichuan hot pot is known for its peppery, spicy, fresh and fragrant flavour. It typically includes a variety of spices, chillies, and the mouth-numbing Sichuan pepper, along with meat, seafood, and vegetables. It has become a representative food of Sichuan and Chongqing and can be found in almost every city in China.

The ingredients of Sichuan hot pot

Sichuan hot pot is a popular dish in the Sichuan province of China. It is a social meal, often enjoyed with family and friends. The dish is highly customisable, with a wide variety of ingredients that can be added to the hot pot.

The Broth

The broth is the key component of the Sichuan hot pot. It is made with a blend of spices and aromatics, giving it a unique flavour and aroma. Here are some common ingredients used to make the broth:

• Dried Sichuan chillies, such as facing heaven or er jing tiao
• Sichuan peppercorns (red, green, or a mixture)
• Black cardamom pods
• Cinnamon sticks
• Bay leaves
• Star anise
• Cumin seeds
• Fennel seeds
• Shaoxing cooking wine
• Roasted rapeseed oil or peanut oil
• Beef tallow
• Scallions
• Ginger
• Garlic
• Lemongrass
• Doubanjiang (chilli bean paste)
• Douchi (fermented black beans)
• Sichuan chilli flakes
• Rock sugar
• Beef, pork, or chicken stock
• Mushroom or chicken bouillon

Dunking Ingredients

The fun part of the Sichuan hot pot is choosing your dunking ingredients, which are added to the broth and cooked at the table. Here are some popular options:

• Thinly sliced raw meats, such as beef, lamb, or pork
• Seafood, such as scallops, shrimp, squid, fish balls, or crab sticks
• Offal meats, such as chicken gizzards or beef tripe
• Vegetables, such as bok choy, crown daisy leaves, winter melon, or Napa cabbage
• Root vegetables, such as daikon, turnip, lotus root, or potato
• Mushrooms, such as shiitake, portobello, or enoki
• Cooked and peeled whole quail eggs
• Non-starchy noodles, such as sweet potato noodles

Dipping Sauces

To complement the spicy and numbing flavours of the broth, a variety of dipping sauces can be served alongside the Sichuan hot pot. These sauces can be mixed and matched according to personal preference:

• Toasted sesame oil
• Finely grated garlic
• Chopped fresh scallions
• Chopped fresh cilantro

How to make Sichuan hot pot

Ingredients:

For the soup base:

• Oil (rapeseed, grapeseed, canola, or another neutral oil)
• Ginger
• Bay leaves
• Garlic cloves
• Cinnamon stick
• Star anise
• Cloves
• Sichuan peppercorns
• Whole dried red chillies
• Spicy hot pot soup base
• Chicken stock

For the dipping sauce:

• Chinese black vinegar or rice vinegar
• Sesame paste or peanut butter
• Chili oil or paste
• Soy sauce
• Cilantro
• Scallions
• Garlic

To eat with your hot pot:

• Thinly shaved beef or lamb
• Assorted fish balls
• Thinly sliced fish fillets (tender white fish like tilapia or sea bass)
• Firm tofu (sliced)
• Soy puffs (fried tofu puffs)
• Shiitake mushrooms
• Wood ear mushrooms
• Glass noodles (mung bean vermicelli)
• Prepared frozen dumplings or wontons
• Chinese rice cakes
• Bok choy (or choy sum)
• Green leaf lettuce

Instructions:

First, make the Sichuan hot pot soup base. If you don't like spicy food, you can skip this step and just use a pot of boiling chicken stock.

In a wok over medium heat, add the oil and the ginger. Cook the ginger for about a minute until caramelized, being careful not to burn it. Next, add the bay leaves, whole garlic cloves, cinnamon stick, star anise, and cloves. Cook for another 2 minutes until fragrant.

Now, add the Sichuan peppercorns, whole dried red chillies, and the spicy hot pot soup base. Cook for a further 2 minutes, then add the chicken stock. Bring to a boil and transfer to the pot you'll be using for your hot pot. The pot should be relatively wide and at least 6 inches deep.

Next, make your personalized hot pot dipping sauce by mixing together your chosen ingredients from the list above.

To assemble the hot pot, plug in your hot plate, place the prepared pot of broth on top, and bring to a low boil or simmer. Place all of your prepared ingredients around the pot, and let everyone mix up their own dipping sauces.

Each person can then add whatever ingredients they want to the pot, wait for them to cook, and then dip them into their sauce. You can use stainless steel wire skimmers to help with this process. As the water evaporates, add boiling water to the pot as needed.

You can also serve rice with this spicy Sichuan hot pot, but it's not necessary.

The best restaurants for Sichuan hot pot

If you're looking for the best restaurants for Sichuan hot pot, you're in luck! Here are some top spots to consider:

Long Sen Yuan Hotpot

This restaurant lets the food do the talking with its 18 soup bases. While it may not be flashy, the exceptional hot pot here earned the restaurant a Michelin Star.

Chengdu Huangcheng Laoma

This high-end restaurant offers live entertainment in the form of Sichuan opera to accompany your meal. It is a bit pricey, but well worth the experience.

Shu Jiuxiang Hotpot

A bustling restaurant that offers an authentic Sichuan hotpot experience. Here, you can get a unique hotpot divided into 9 sections, allowing you to mix-and-match soup bases and spice levels to your liking.

Chun La Hao Chongqing Hot Pot

A late entrant to the LA hot pot scene, but one that has quickly gained the trust of discerning hot pot enthusiasts. They carefully select the freshest ingredients and cook their hotpot broth with natural spring water, staying true to the roots of the dish.

Ma Lu Bian Bian Rowland Heights

This international sensation, with locations in Chengdu, Sichuan, and California, offers a unique twist on hot pot. Here, you'll find ingredients skewered on bamboo sticks, similar to shashlik or barbecue, that you cook in the bubbling broth.

Xiaolongkan Hot Pot

This hot pot restaurant offers a unique Benz pot layout, resembling the car logo of a Mercedes, called "Three Flavors." The broth is fresh, tongue-tingling, and spicy, with three levels of spiciness to choose from.

Muyang Hot Pot & BBQ

Located in London, this restaurant is known for its big and bold hot pots. Expect a wide variety of ingredients, including handmade fish balls, black fungus mushrooms, quail eggs, and more. While waiting for your hot pot to boil, enjoy their delicious barbecue meat, seafood, and veggie skewers.

Shu Xiangge Chinese Hot Pot

Also in London, this Chinese-looking joint is known for its extremely spicy hot pots. Their à la carte menu offers unique options like kidney, aorta, and tripe. What sets this place apart is their 9-section hot pot, allowing you to customize your soup bases and spice levels.

These restaurants are sure to provide you with an exceptional Sichuan hot pot experience, complete with delicious broth, fresh ingredients, and the opportunity to customize your spice levels.

The health benefits of Sichuan hot pot

Sichuan hot pot is a flavourful, spicy dish that is enjoyed socially, often in groups. The health benefits of this meal are numerous, and it is a great way to warm up during the colder months.

The hot pot is a very social meal, often eaten over several hours, with diners taking turns to cook their chosen ingredients in the bubbling broth. This social aspect is a great way to connect with friends and family, and the time spent cooking and eating together is a wonderful way to celebrate special occasions.

The spicy nature of the dish is also beneficial to health. The capsaicin in the chile peppers induces sweating, which is a great way to cool down in the hot and humid Sichuan province. The Sichuan peppercorns also have a numbing effect on the tongue, which prevents the mouth from feeling too much heat, allowing diners to eat more. This is a great way to ensure a good intake of food and fluids, especially if you are unwell.

The raw ingredients cooked in the hot pot are also very healthy. The typical ingredients include thinly sliced meat, vegetables, mushrooms, and tofu, which are all rich in nutrients. The variety of textures and flavours offered by these ingredients also adds to the enjoyment of the meal, making it a fun and tasty way to eat healthily.

Finally, the process of cooking your own food in the hot pot ensures that you are in control of what you eat. This is especially beneficial if you have any dietary requirements or are simply trying to eat more healthily. You can choose the type of soup, the protein, and the vegetables, and control the cooking time to suit your preferences.

Sichuan hot pot is, therefore, a very healthy meal, offering not only nutritional benefits but also a fun and social dining experience.

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