Unveiling the Mystery of Wu Dalang’s “Cooking Cakes”
In the world of Chinese cuisine, the term “cake” has a long and diverse history, encompassing a wide range of flour-based processed foods. From hu cakes to steamed cakes, the variety of cakes in traditional Chinese cuisine is vast and rich in cultural significance.
But when it comes to the cakes sold by Wu Dalang in the classic Chinese novel “Water Margin”, the mystery deepens. Are they pancakes, as some believe, or are they actually steamed buns? The debate has sparked curiosity among food enthusiasts and historians alike.
According to historical texts and literary references, the cakes Wu Dalang sells may actually be steamed noodles, a type of stuffed pasta popular in ancient China. The distinction between steamed buns and steamed noodles lies in their appearance, with steamed buns typically having pleats on the surface, while steamed noodles are smooth and hemispherical.
In the Han Dynasty, steamed pasta was already a common culinary practice, with various types of steamed cakes and buns being enjoyed by the upper classes. The ability to ferment dough until cross patterns appear on the surface indicates a high level of flour fermentation technology in ancient China.
In the Song Dynasty, improvements in dough-making technology further popularized steamed cakes, with old yeast dough being used to create soft and fluffy textures. It was during this period that steamed cakes were renamed “Cuibing” to avoid the name taboo of Emperor Renzong.
In the TV series “Water Margin”, Wu Dalang is depicted carrying a steamer, further supporting the theory that the cakes he sells are indeed steamed buns. However, the specifics of these “cooking cakes” remain open to interpretation, and further research is needed to definitively determine their true nature.
Regardless of whether they are pancakes or steamed buns, the cakes sold by Wu Dalang serve as a fascinating glimpse into the rich culinary history of China. As food enthusiasts continue to debate and speculate, one thing is certain: the allure of traditional Chinese cakes is as irresistible as ever.