Food: Harbin's Famous Iron Pot Stew

There are 23 provinces in China, all of which have their own local food specialities. What people eat often depends on their region's culture and weather. Recently, I explored Harbin, a cold city in Northeastern China, where I tried a hot, flavorful stew cooked in the biggest wok I’ve ever seen!

I tried Harbin's famous iron pot stew (铁锅炖 ). This is a famous dish consisting of meat and vegetables stewed in a large wok. Friends and family usually gather around the wok to chat about their day while eating together.

The dish was very different from the typical restaurant food I usually eat. The food was cooked on our table and took 20 minutes so I was very hungry when it was finally ready. It was very salty because people in Northeastern China love cooking with lots of soy sauce. The mood around the table was cozy and fun as everyone talked, laughed and ate together.

Making iron pot stew (铁锅炖) takes a few steps. First, heat up the pot and stir-fry the sauce to create a flavorful base. Second, add the ingredients that take longer to cook, like meat or seafood, and cover the pot so it can simmer.

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