Baked pancake of Xi County

Baked pancake of Xi County

As one of the special-flavored snacks, it is also named “baked crisp bun”.

The main ingredients include flour, fat, sesame oil, green onion and salt. It is made by putting the mixture of the above onto a piece of hot Aozi (a flat iron) which is a unique and very traditional cooking utensil.

It is said the baked pancake originated in the Ming Dynasty (400 years ago). During the period of the Guangxu Emperor in the Qing Dynasty, there were several chefs who could cook the pancake. But only one of them named Xiong Mingde became very famous, under the instruction of his teacher, an experienced chef of that time, Cai Anren. In 1942, Xiong Mingde enrolled several apprentices to teach them the skills of cooking the pancake. Among them, Peng Zengren was the best for his superior skills in making it.

In March 1980, a contest for famous snacks and dishes in the Henan Province was held in Zhengzhou. It lasted for a month. The famous chef, Peng Zengren, was invited to show his skills. After tasting the pancakes he cooked, the audience all spoke highly of them. Among more than 150 snacks and dishes exhibited, 71 of them were honored as famous snacks and dishes, while the baked pancake of Xi County ranked first.

In 1983, Xi County baked pancake was recorded in a booked named A Guide to Chinese Cuisine, published by China Travel and Tourism Publishing House. Here’s the comment from the book: “Being oval and bright. The baked pancake is so crisp and sweet and delicious.”