Rou jia Mo – Traditional Chinese hamburger

Known as Rou Jia Mo, few people know that this dish originated in China during the Qin Dynasty (approximately 221-207 BC). Although there are many differences between the American hamburger and this Chinese street food, historical records indicate that Rou Jia Mo is the world's first hamburger.

Rou Jia Mo originates from Shaanxi Province, China, and is now found throughout the country. It is often prepared, cooked, and eaten on the streets. The dough is a mixture of water, flour, and yeast. The recipe may vary by region, but the basic ingredients remain the same. Traditional Rou Jia Mo is baked in a clay oven. Nowadays, the dough can be pan-fried or baked. The crust has a pleasantly chewy and slightly firm texture.

The meat filling uses ground meat, which can be pork, beef, lamb, or chicken, simmered with various spices such as ginger, cloves, coriander, and star anise. The pastry is often garnished with coriander or lettuce, similar to the sandwiches we commonly see.

In 2016, Rou Jia Mo was officially recognized as an intangible cultural heritage of Shaanxi Province due to its long history and popularity.

Ngoc Anh (According to Huffingtonpost)

The Thanh