What You Need to Know
The pickling process typically involves soaking ingredients in a brine solution created with salt, sugar, and spices, with the temperature and time varying depending on the method and ingredients. This process can range from a few hours to several days or weeks, and may involve fermentation to create a sour and salty flavor.
Steps
- 1.
Sichuan Paocai (Sichuan Province): Creates the signature spicy-sour base for hot pot broths
- 2.
Tianjin preserved vegetables (Tianjin): Produces the sweet-sour cabbage used in stir-fries
- 3.
Zhacai (Chongqing): Develops the distinctive crunchy texture for noodle toppings
The Science
Primary Reaction
Lactic acid fermentation