Dried bamboo shoots 筍乾
Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2024 2:44 am
"Magnolia slices" is the elegant name for dried bamboo shoots. Bamboo shoots are mainly produced in Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hunan and other places. Bamboo shoots refer to young bamboo stems that have not yet been unearthed. Because they have not yet become lignified, they can be eaten as vegetables. Add water to make soup, which is crisp and refreshing. When bamboo shoots are harvested, they are often sun-dried or dried into dried bamboo shoots. In addition to being delicious, they can be stored for a long time and are also convenient for transportation. The origin of "Magnolia Piece" is said to be related to Guo Xin, a descendant of Guo Ziyi, a famous general in the Tang Dynasty.
Guo Ziyi (698-781), aged 85, was a politician and military strategist in the Tang Dynasty. He was a native of Zheng County, Huazhou (now Huaxian County, Shaanxi). His ancestral home was Taiyuan, Shanxi. He was born into a family of officials. His father was Guo Jingzhi, the governor of Shouzhou. At the age of 16, in the early years of the founding of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty (713), he bravely won the high-level martial arts examination (Wu Zhuangyuan). He put down many troubles such as the Anshi Rebellion (755-763), the invasion of Tubo and Uighurs, and experienced the Xuan, Su, and Dai dynasties. The four emperors of , De and De were twice prime ministers. He was the only military champion in history who rose to the position of prime minister. He was also the most outstanding military meritorious among the military champions. He was granted the title of Fenyang County Prince and was known as Guo Linggong in the world.
Guo Xin is a descendant of Guo Ziyi, a famous general in the Tang Dynasty, and lives in Yiyang, Hunan. He practiced martial arts since childhood and developed good martial arts skills. At the age of 18, he went to Beijing to take the exam and was admitted to the martial arts examination. At that time, foreign enemies were invading, and Guo Xin immediately went on an expedition, repeatedly performed extraordinary feats, and returned in triumph. He was named Minister of the Ministry of War, returned in splendor, and returned to his hometown to worship his ancestors.
His parents were very happy that Guo Xin could honor his ancestors and become famous. They immediately lit up lanterns and candles to arrange the marriage ceremony for Guo Xin. His daughter-in-law was named Yulan. Although she was an adopted daughter, she was beautiful and wise. She and Guo Xin had been childhood sweethearts since they were young. During Guo Xin's war, She took care of her parents at home, and they became even more affectionate after their marriage.
Time flies, and after a period of time, Guo Xin went to Beijing to take office, while Yu Lan stayed at home to serve her elderly parents-in-law. Although the husband and wife were far apart, Yulan often asked people to bring some tea, lotus seeds, dried fish and other specialties from her hometown to Guo Xin to show her longing for her husband, so the two had a close bond.
One year, there was a good harvest of bamboo shoots in Yiyang. Yulan wanted to take them to the capital to give her husband a try. However, the distance to the capital was long and the bamboo shoots were all rotten when they were brought to the capital! Magnolia suddenly had an idea. Tea leaves, lotus seeds and fresh fish can be dried in the sun. Bamboo shoots should also be dried in the sun. So she peeled and blanched the fresh bamboo shoots and then dried them in the sun. This would be easy to carry and store for a long time, so she asked someone to Take it to the capital.
After Guo Xin received the dried bamboo shoots, he immediately cooked and made soup. Because the soup was delicious, he presented the dish to the emperor for tasting. The emperor was full of praise after eating it and asked Guo Xin the name of the dish. Guo Xin reported back: "These are bamboo shoots grown in my hometown, made by my wife Yulan herself." The emperor said, "Since it was made by Yulan, my wife, I love you, let's call it 'Magnolia Piece'!" From then on, bamboo shoots had Yulan Pieces. The elegant name has been passed down to this day.
「玉蘭片」就是筍乾的雅稱。竹筍主要出產於浙江、江西、湖南等地。竹筍是指尚未出土的幼竹莖,因尚未木質化,可作為蔬菜食用,加水煮湯,清脆爽口。竹筍豐收時,常曬乾或烘乾成筍乾,味道鮮美外,可耐久藏,也利於運輸。「玉蘭片」的由來,相傳與唐代名將郭子儀的後代郭信有關。
郭子儀(698年-781年)享年85歲,是唐代政治家、軍事家,華州鄭縣(今陝西華縣)人,祖籍山西太原,出身官吏之家,父親是壽州刺史郭敬之。16歲,唐玄宗開元初年(713年)勇奪武舉高等(武狀元),一生平定了安史之亂(755年-763年)、吐蕃和回紇入侵等諸多亂事,經歷了玄、肅、代、德四帝,曾兩度為相,是歷代唯一武狀元而位至宰相者,也是武狀元中軍功最顯赫者,封汾陽郡王,世稱郭令公。
郭信是唐代名將郭子儀的後代,家住湖南益陽。從小習武練成一身好武藝,18歲赴京應試,被錄取為武舉。當時適逢外敵入侵,郭信隨即出征,屢建奇功,凱旋而歸,被封為兵部侍郎,衣錦榮歸,返鄉祭祖。
父母很高興郭信能光宗耀祖,功成名就,隨即張燈結彩點花燭,為郭信辦理婚姻大事,他的媳婦叫玉蘭,雖是養女但長得美貌又賢慧,從小與郭信就是青梅竹馬,郭信征戰期間,她在家侍候雙親,無微不至,完婚後兩人更加情深意濃。
韶光易逝,過了一段期間,郭信赴京上任,玉蘭留在家中侍奉年邁的公婆。夫妻二人雖然遠隔兩地,但玉蘭經常託人給郭信帶些家鄉的茶葉、蓮子、乾魚等特產,以示對丈夫的思念,故兩人心心相印。
有一年,益陽的竹筍豐收,玉蘭想捎去京城給丈夫嘗鮮,可是,京城的路途遙遠,竹筍帶到京城時,豈不全部爛了!玉蘭突然靈機一動,茶葉、蓮子和鮮魚都能曬乾,竹筍也應可曬乾,於是,她就把鮮嫩的竹筍剝皮焯水後曬乾,這樣容易攜帶,又能夠久藏,就請人把它捎往京城。
郭信接到筍乾後,立即煮食燒湯,由於湯鮮味美,即將此菜獻給皇帝品嘗,皇帝食用後讚不絕口,問郭信此菜名稱。郭信回稟:「此乃家鄉所產之竹筍,為臣妻玉蘭親手所製。」皇帝說:「既是愛卿之妻玉蘭所製,那就叫它『玉蘭片』吧!」從此,竹筍有玉蘭片的雅稱,就流傳至今。