Called Rou Jia Mo, perhaps few people know that this dish appeared in China during the Qin Dynasty (around 221-207 BC). Although there are many differences between the American hamburger and this Chinese street food, according to recorded documents, Rou Jia Mo is the world's first hamburger.
Rou Jia Mo originated in Shaanxi Province, China, and is now available all over the country. It is often prepared, processed and eaten on the street. The dough is a mixture of water, flour and yeast. The recipe may vary from region to region, but the basic ingredients remain the same. Rou Jia Ma is traditionally baked in a clay oven. Nowadays, the dough can be pan-fried or oven-baked. The crust has a moderately chewy texture.
The meat filling is made from ground meat, which can be pork, beef, lamb or chicken, stewed with a variety of spices such as ginger, cloves, coriander and star anise. The bread is often garnished with coriander or lettuce, as is the case with sandwiches.
In 2016, Rou Jia Mo was officially recognized as an intangible cultural heritage of Shaanxi Province due to its long history of existence and development as well as its popularity.
Ngoc Anh (According to Huffingtonpost)
