Shanghai traditional breakfast－“四大金刚”Si Da Jin Gang

There are so many different kinds of breakfast foods in Shanghai, should it be savoury or sweet today? Crispy or soft? With or without soy milk? Today I would like to introduce four most popular foods, they were known as “四大金刚”Si Da Jin Gang in Chinese. 

No.1 Sticky Rice Breakfast Ball (糍饭团Ci Fan Tuan)

 

















The vendor will grab a handful of steamed rice, top it with white sugar, pork meat floss, maybe some pickled vegetables and two full You Tiao(fried breadsticks). He then shapes the whole thing into a ball, puts it in a clear plastic bag. 

No.2 Sesame breakfast Pastries (大饼 Da Bing)

The vendor may ask if you want sweet or savory bing, I like the salty ones, finding the sweet ones a little plain.  

No.3 Fried breadsticks (油条You Tiao)

They are usually eaten with congee or with a bowl of steaming sweetened soy milk. The vendors get started at around 5am and are still making them way past eleven. Fried breadsticks are fantastic when pulled fresh from the deep-fryer. The foot-long bread can be separated into two side-by-side pieces, with a crisp, almost waffle-like exterior, and a light and chewy interior. Best consumed within ten minutes of cooking, otherwise they become very tough and rubbery. Tips: Dip with soy sauce

No.4 Soy Milk (豆浆 Dou Jiang)

I would recommend you to try salty soy milk. This savory soy soup with Fried Dough, or Dou Jiang You Tiao, is a popular breakfast/brunch item in Shanghai. It’s basically a soy milk soup, curdled slightly with the vinegar, and flavored with scallions, sesame oil, pickled radishes and the crispy fried dough.