Choice Morsel: International Doughnut Culture, Part 4

The beginning of the 15-day Chinese New Year festival was on Valentine's Day. Continue the celebration with a Chinese doughnut...or four...

I didn't know Chinese cuisine included bread until I traveled through China in 1984 and discovered bao. In fact, doughy fried treats are not unknown to China, and even better, you can sample many of them here in Seattle.

A medley of Chinese doughnuts
(top) youtiao at Canton Wonton House; Wild Ginger Bellevue's deep-fried steamed buns;
(bottom) jin deui at Jade Garden; and saa jung from Mon Hei Bakery.

(More after the jump.)

Youtiao

Served with congee (rice porridge) at breakfast and great for dunking, youtiao has got to be the greasiest doughnut I’ve ever eaten, hence its name, which translates to "oil strip." At Canton Wonton House, I see lots of customers dipping their youtiao into their noodle soup. Don’t miss the fun.

Zhaliang, a popular dim sum dish made from youtiao, at Jade Garden

If you ever saw the Krispy Kreme bread pudding featured on Paula Deen’s cooking show, you won’t be surprised to learn that youtiao is the main ingredient in the dim sum dish zhaliang. At Jade Garden, zhaliang begins with youtiao and is then wrapped in rice noodles, doused with soy sauce, sprinkled with sesame seeds and served with hoisin sauce. If you think Deen’s recipe is over the top, give zhaliang a try.

Jin deui

Better known as sesame balls, jin deui is China’s take on the jelly doughnut. Made of glutinous rice flour that is deep-fried, stuffed with sweetened bean or lotus paste, then rolled in sesame seeds. Find it at your favorite dim sum spot.

Deep fried bao

Bao at Wild Ginger

The kitchen staff at Wild Ginger has long been known to pop those yummy steamed buns that accompany their fragrant duck into the fryer for a little snack. Tossed with sugar, they’re now appearing on the brunch menu at the restaurant's Bellevue outpost.

Saa jung

Softer and not as sweet as a standard American doughnut, the saa jung at Mon Hei Bakery is rolled in sugar and ranks as one of my favorite doughnuts ever. I hope you’re not reading this on a Monday night because Mon Hei is closed on Tuesdays.

Join Choice Morsel next week for three doughnuts that are traditionally paired with honey. Can you guess which?

Need another doughnut fix now? Check out our previous posts on beignets, paczki and malasadas.