Hui Min Jie is truly a foodie’s paradise. Each bite I took increased my appetite, and I grew hungrier and hungrier as the night went on. Of course, later that evening I had a severe stomach ache that kept me up for most of the night. Have you ever eaten so much that your stomach hurt? It was definitely worth the suffering.
The absolute best thing that I tried was called "yang rou po mo" or a lamb and bread soup. The soup itself is a rich lamb broth, topped with pieces of bread that soak in the broth. In fact, I enjoyed the dish so much that I had two large bowls in one sitting! I was actually embarrassed to order my second bowl, but the owner reassured me that this happens quite often.
When I arrived in Xi’an, I was halfway through a cold. The steaming hot broth really hit the spot on the way down. Have you ever been sick and had homemade chicken soup? Everyone knows that chicken soup is the best penicillin. The feeling of relief as you sip on the hot chicken broth proves just how potent it is! This lamb broth is the Chinese version of chicken soup.
The lamb and bread soup is served with a side of pickled garlic and hot chili paste. Some studies show that garlic is a superfood that helps reduce the severity of cold symptoms, as well as helps shorten the recovery period. It contains an enzyme called “alliin” that provides medicinal properties to help with a cold. Garlic is also rich in antioxidants as well as vitamins that help boost the overall immune system, especially when eaten raw so that all the vitamins are retained. Some home remedies actually suggest to eat raw garlic cloves when sick.
The chili paste also helps with cold symptoms.
