Yongtai dried plums enhance flavors, healthiness of cuisines

A scrumptious dish of dried plum-stewed pig trotters. [Photo/people.cn]

Yongtai county in Fuzhou city, located in East China's Fujian province, has long been known as the "hometown of Chinese plums". 

Here, the sweet and sour Chinese plums are not only enjoyed as fruit, but are also used to create a variety of delicious dishes in different cuisines. One of the local specialties is the dried plum-stewed pig trotters from Chixi town.

The dried plum is a key ingredient in making stewed pig trotters, known for their refreshing taste, thirst-quenching properties and ability to remove any unpleasant odors and greasiness. In short, the ingredient adds color and enhances the dish. 

Delicious dried plum-stewed pig trotters also involves a crucial step – after stir-frying the pig trotters, they are placed in a clay pot and simmered over low heat for an hour. Once the dried plum and seasonings have fully infused into the pig trotters – accompanied by the rich aroma of the meat, a delectable, sweet and sour, golden-colored dried plum-stewed pigs trotter dish is ready to be enjoyed.