🍽️ Stewed Mutton

Grassland lamb stewed plain, rich but not gamey.

In Ordos, Inner Mongolia, the best way to eat mutton is the simplest: plain stewed lamb. Free-range grassland lamb is cut into chunks, simmered in plain water with only a little ginger and scallion until the meat turns tender. The simpler the method, the more it relies on quality: Ordos lamb is finely marbled, tender, and after slow stewing yields a clear, fresh broth that is rich but never gamey. It is served in a big bowl, broth and meat together, dipped lightly in salt water or wild chive flowers. Locals gather around the pot in autumn and winter, and this dish is a top choice for honoring guests, embodying the Mongolian culinary spirit of respecting pure flavor.