🍽️ Ankang Steamed Pot

Southern Shaanxi New Year steamed pot.

The Ankang Steamed Pot is a traditional New Year dish of southern Shaanxi, especially around Ankang in the Han River hills. A whole chicken, pig trotters and pork tripe are placed in a large basin, often with warming herbs such as codonopsis and goji berries, then steamed for a long time over water without uncovering the lid. The resulting broth is clear yet mellow, the chicken falls off the bone, the trotters are soft and gelatinous, and the tripe becomes tender and fragrant. The dish relies on slow steaming and the natural sweetness of the ingredients rather than heavy seasoning. It is a centerpiece of holiday and banquet tables in Ankang, shared family style and symbolizing abundance and reunion at the New Year.