Khui Cuisine

The cuisine of the Khui or Hui(خُوِ)[回] people mainly in Gansu, Ningxia, and surrounding areas of China can often be termed Qingzhen[清真] cuisine, though Qingzhen cuisine also has a broader meaning of anything considered halal(حلال‎)[清真], or permissible, according to Islamic beliefs. Khui or Hui is also a broad term which originally meant foreigner, but in this case refers to the cultural region mainly focused in Ningxia and Gansu area with Islamic and Han Chinese roots.

The Khui people are closely associated with Islam. The tradition of Islam in China dates back thousands of years. The Khui people may be called Chinese Muslims, although all Khui people might not necessarily be practitioners of Islam. Their culture and ethnic identity has become unique largely due to their religious history.

Khui people mainly live in Ningxia and Gansu, as well as parts of Shaanxi, Qinghai, and elsewhere. The Yellow River[黃河] runs through this region. The Hexi Corridor(حْسِ ظِوْلاْ)[河西走廊] is an important geographical passage where Silk Road traders passed from the Tarim Basin to ancient China proper. Lanzhou[蘭州] in Gansu Province is a major city with strong Khui presence. Yinchuan(ءٍچُوًا شِ)[銀川] in Ningxia Province is also a center for Khui culture. Most Khui people are descended from Silk Road traders and have mixed ancestry from northern China, Central Asia, and even Iran. Silk road traders brought Islam to China along with cultural influences. These influences over time developed into the Khui culture.

Though Khui people speak Mandarin, they sometimes use a script called xiao’erjing(شِيَوْ عَر دٍ)[小兒經]. Xiao’erjing is based on Perso-Arabic script. The Lanyin(蘭銀) dialect of Mandarin is commonly used.

Unlike most Chinese-speaking people who typically eat lots of pork, Khui people do not eat pork because it is considered forbidden and not halal according to Islamic tradition. Lamb and beef are mainly used for meat in Khui cuisine.

Ingredients

Wheat is a major ingredient in Khui cuisine used mainly for noodles and breads. Wheat has been grown in and near the Hexi Corridor for thousands of years. Pulled noodles[拉麪 / 拉麵 lāmiàn] made from wheat flour are a specialty used in various dishes. Flatbreads such as baiji mo[白吉饃] are also made.

Cumin[孜然] is used mainly for seasoning meat.

Lamb and beef are common meats. Sheep milk and cow milk are used. Chicken and eggs are also used.

Dishes

• tang mian(湯麪): pulled wheat flour noodles with broth
• beef noodles(牛肉麵): wheat noodles with beef and broth
• pao mo(泡饃): bread soup
• kebab(串兒): grilled skewered meat
• stewed lamb meat(羊羔肉)