🍽️ Yichang Radish Dumpling

Fried radish dumpling, Yangtze snack.

Yichang Radish Dumpling is a signature Yangtze-side street snack of Yichang, Hubei, though dumpling is misleading: it is really a deep-fried radish cake. A ladle mold is lined with rice batter, packed with radish strips salted soft and tossed with chili and spices, topped with more batter and lowered into hot oil until golden. Crisp outside, soft within, the radish filling is sweet, lightly spicy and deeply savory. Draining the radish and controlling oil temperature are key, and it tastes best piping hot. Yichang locals buy a couple to eat while strolling the riverbank, often with tofu pudding or soy milk. This cheap, warming, locally sourced fried snack vividly captures Yangtze waterfront street food.