Dongbei Demoli Dun Huoyu
Northeast Demoli-style stewed live fish is a hearty dish from a small town near Harbin, featuring fresh river fish slowly stewed with tofu and pork in a rich sauce.
Ingredients
- Grass carp 1 pcs
- Cooking oil to taste
- Soy sauce 2 tbsp
- Cooking wine 2 tbsp
- Ginger slices 3 slices
- Scallion segments 2 stalk
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- 1. Wash and cut the live stewed fish from Northeast China into pieces, blanch it in water to remove the blood foam and set aside.
- 2. Heat oil in a pot and sauté onions, ginger and garlic.
- 3. Add Northeastern Demoly Stewed Live Fish and fry until the surface is slightly brown.
- 4. Add grass carp, ginger slices, green onions and appropriate amount of hot water
- 5. Bring to a boil, then turn to low heat and simmer for 40-60 minutes
- 6. Add salt and pepper, reduce the juice over high heat, and serve.
Cultural Notes
Demoli originated in Demoli township, a small village near Harbin in Heilongjiang province. The dish became famous when a local restaurant owner perfected the recipe using fresh fish from the nearby Songhua River. The key is using live freshwater fish — the fresher, the better. The combination of fish, tofu, and pork creates layers of umami. This dish represents the Dongbei tradition of one-pot cooking, where everything simmers together in a single large pot. It has become one of the most Popular dishes in Harbin and is now found in Dongbei restaurants nationwide.