In Chinese cuisine , the dish Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, also known in Chinese as "Fo tiao qiang", originates from the fish fin soup of the people of Fujian province. This dish is said to have appeared during the Qing Dynasty ruled by Emperor Daoguang, with a history of more than 200 years. There is an opinion that the name of the dish refers to the delicious taste of the dish, which also makes monks stir.
BBC Travel once listed this dish in the list of "The most expensive dishes in the world", served at high-ranking parties. In 2022, Buddha Jumping Over the Wall was also selected on the list of Chinese national dishes.
The process of preparing Buddha to jump over the wall is complicated and time-consuming. The dish includes 18 main ingredients, mainly seafood such as abalone, sea cucumber, fish fin, ginseng, scallop mushrooms, deer tendon... Each type is steamed separately in a jar and then added together. a small clay bowl, add Shaoxing wine to enhance the aroma. However, the use of shark fin today is limited because this is a controversial dish related to environmental issues.
In addition, the chef also has to add up to 30 ingredients and 12 other spices. Missing even one ingredient can make the dish less attractive. Once completed, the chef carefully covers the clay pot with lotus leaves and stews over low heat for 5-6 hours, being careful not to let the scent escape during the cooking process.
Due to its elaborate preparation and rare ingredients, this dish always has a sky-high price. Each wall-jumping Buddha usually costs around 800 - 1,000 yuan (about 2.7 - 3.5 million VND).
In fact, many documents say that the dish has many effects such as enhancing physical strength, improving health... Previously, Buddha jumping over the wall had a high price so it was only served to kings and nobles. Nowadays, this dish has become more popular thanks to its high nutritional value, delicious taste, and is loved by many people.
At Chinese restaurants, Buddha Jumps Over the Wall has many versions to serve the needs of diners. With an attractive flavor and good for health, restaurants have packaged it into sturdy ceramic jars so that visitors can buy it as gifts to take home.
In recent years, the Buddha jumping over the wall dish is not only famous in China but also in Asian countries such as Vietnam, Korea... In Vietnam, the Buddha jumping over the wall dish is pre-cooked in a small enough tin box. For one person, the price is 200,000-300,000 VND, the porcelain bowl costs 450,000 - 600,000 VND depending on the brand.
