500 grams eggplant
1 (1/6 tsp) gram salt
20 grams (4 tsp) broad bean sauce from Pixian County, Sichuan Province (if not available, other chile sauce can be substituted)
25 (4.5 tsp) grams sugar
15 (3 tsp) grams vinegar
15 (3 tsp) grams soy sauce
15 grams (3 tsp) rice wine
20 grams (4 tsp) mixture of cornstarch and water
500 grams (35 tbsp) cooking oil
50 grams (2 oz) mixture of minced scallions, ginger and garlic

Peel the eggplant, slice into 2cm cubes, and score the skins with a knife. Chop up the scallions, garlic and ginger. In a large bowl, combine the salt, sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, rice wine and cornstarch mixture. Put aside for later use and mince the broad bean sauce.

In a wok deep fry eggplants until golden yellow, remove and drain. Heat a little oil in the wok and cook the ginger, scallion, garlic and broad bean sauce until aromatic. Add the cornstarch mixture sauce and eggplant and stir fry until finely mixed with other ingredients. Serve.

Features: This savory dish has hints of sweet, spicy and sour flavors.

Chinese Traditional Snack

Old Beijing Eats

Old Beijing Fried Brown Sauce Noodles King (Lao Beijing Zha Jiang Mian Da Wang )

On entering, shop assistants might surprise you by their loud cries of welcome, a ritual following old Beijing tradition.

The restaurant is decorated with traditional Beijing paintings and done out with local furniture. In addition to characteristic Beijing dishes, fried brown sauce noodles are a big attraction here.

Location: No 29 Chongwenmen Waidajie, Chongwen District, Tel: (86-10) 6705-6705

Yi Wan Ju

Location: No 5, Area 4, Anhuili, Asian Games Village, 200 metres to the east of Asian Games Village Post Office, Tel: (86-10) 6491-1258

Da Cai Lou

Location: No 8 Beitoutiao, Tuanjiehu, Chaoyang District, Tel: (86-10)-6582-1916

Hai Wan Ju

Location: 5/F, Ganjiakou Mansion, Haidian District, Tel: (86-10) 8839-2073
Fu Jia Lou

Decorated in a typical Beijing style and serving Beijing-style food, the restaurant offers a wide variety of local dishes and traditional snacks. This serves more dishes than average noodles restaurants.

Location: No 23 Dongsi Shitiao, 200 metres to the west of Poly Plaza, Dongcheng District, Tel: (86-10) 8403-7831

Dao Jia Chang

Location: No 20 North of Guangximen, east side of Ito Yokado Shilipu Store, Chaoyang District, Tel: (86-10) 6557-0115

North China Traditional Snack: Tanghulu