3 MOST POPULAR HAIPAI DISHES
1.Shanghai-style borscht
Quite different from its Russian origin, the Chinese-style borscht (luó sòng tāng), originated in Harbin, close to the Russian border in northeast China, and has spread as far as Shanghai and Hong Kong. A Shanghai variety appeared when the Russian emigrees settled down in the former French Concession in the early 20th century. The recipe was changed by removing beetroot and using ketchup to color the soup as well as to add to its sweetness, because Shanghai's climate was bad for planting beets and the soup's original taste of sour was alien for the local people. Later they usually fried the ketchup in oil to reduce its taste of sour, then put white sugar in the soup to make it both sour and sweet. Some recipes would contain beef soup, sausages and potatoes. As more and more people made borscht at home, its recipes changed to please the different tastes of its makers. The soup is often accompanied by rice.
2.Shanghai style fried pork chops
The Shanghai-style fried pork chop is a local variety of breaded cutlet. It is particularly popular as street food. The pork chop is coated with bread flour before being fried to avoid too much greasiness and to be crispy outside but tender inside. Back to the old days when supplies were badly needed in Shanghai, soda crackers were crushed to replace bread flour, which produced a different unique flavor. In Shanghai, the pork chop is enjoyed together with the special local 'la jiang you' sauce, whose taste and ingredients are somewhat different from the British Worcestershire sauce.
3.Potato salad
