Fengjing Braised Trotters
枫泾丁蹄 · Fēngjīng Dīng Tí
🌶
📍 Hard to find
Fengjing Dingti is a specialty from the ancient water town of Fengjing, now part of Shanghai. Pork trotters are cleaned, deboned (sometimes), and slowly braised in a mixture of dark soy sauce, rock sugar, Shaoxing wine, and spices for over four hours. The long cooking breaks down the collagen in the trotters, transforming them into a sticky, gelatinous, melt-in-your-mouth delicacy. The skin is dark, glossy, and intensely flavorful. It's served sliced, cold or at room temperature, as a premium cold appetizer.
📖 History
This dish has been produced in Fengjing since the Ming Dynasty. The Ding family recipe has been passed down for over 400 years and is named 'Dingti' after the family name Ding.
🍝 Where to eat it:
Fengjing town itself is the best place. In Shanghai city, look for it at specialty Shanghainese restaurants and food halls.
Fengjing town itself is the best place. In Shanghai city, look for it at specialty Shanghainese restaurants and food halls.