Ta si mi

01 / ABOUT THE DISH

About the dish

Tāsìmì is a traditional dish originating from Beijing. This savory, sweet, tart, spicy, and creamy dish is usually made with a combination of lamb, soy sauce, Shaoxing rice wine, Chinkiang black vinegar, cornstarch, sesame oil, sugar, wheat paste, and ginger juice. The lamb is cut into thin slices and marinated in a mixture of cornstarch, ginger juice, rice wine, vinegar, and soy sauce. The meat is then fried in oil in a wok until browned. When the tender lamb is barely done, the sugar and wheat paste are added to the wok, everything is tossed well, and the dish is then ready to be enjoyed. It is believed that the dish was made for the dowager empress Cixi, and as the chef couldn't name the dish, the empress commented that the dish is like honey (tā sì mì) , hence the name.