Mongolian barbecue
A Taiwanese stir-fried noodle dish, not Mongolian barbecue.
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Mongolian barbecue is a method of preparing stir-fried noodle dishes on a specialized flatiron grill. Despite its name, the dish is not Mongolian, nor was it influenced by Mongolian cuisine, and it is unrelated to actual barbecue traditions. It was developed in Taiwan during the 1950s and has more in common with Teppanyaki.
Quick Facts
- Creator
- Wu Zhaonan
- Origin
- Taiwan
- Year created
- 1951
- Type
- Stir-fried noodle dish
- Cooking surface
- Circular flatiron grill
Facts from the source article.
Origin
Mongolian barbecue was created by Wu Zhaonan, a Taiwanese comedian and restaurateur originally from Beijing who fled to Taiwan after the outbreak of the Chinese Civil War. He opened a street food stall in Yingqiao, Downtown Taipei in 1951.
He initially wished to name the dish "Peking barbecue" after his hometown, but due to political sensitivity associated with the city recently designated as the capital of the People's Republic of China, the name "Mongolian barbecue" was chosen instead. Wu's stall attracted diplomats and wealthy businesspeople despite serving a cheap dish, but was later destroyed by flooding from a typhoon during which Wu almost drowned. He left the restaurant business for a successful comedy career, and numerous imitators emerged, including Genghis Khan, Tang Palace, Great Khan, and Heavenly Khan.
Preparation
Diners typically select raw ingredients from a display of sliced meat and vegetables, then hand the bowl to the chef who adds the diner's choice of sauce and transfers it to a circular grill. The circular shape allows two or more chefs to cook simultaneously, and the food is typically prepared as the grill revolves.
Oil or water may be added while ingredients are stir-fried continuously over high heat. Some American chains separate portions on the grill with a special wedge shaper, and the operator walks around the outside turning each individual's food in succession. Finished dishes are scooped into a bowl and handed to the diner, and many restaurants follow an all-you-can-eat buffet format.
More in Taiwanese cuisine
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Mongolian barbecue (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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