Compared with cuisines of other places in Yunnan Province, Tengchong dishes are not that famous. But it has its own unique taste. Most Tengchong dishes are medium sour and spicy, and a lot of local ingredients are used to make the dishes more unique and outstanding.
Dajiujia
Dajiujia ( means to come to the emperor's rescue) is one of the most famous local flavors of Tengchong Yunnan, a kind of fried Erkuai. The way of cooking it is to: cut erkuai into pieces, add ham, egg, meat, carrot and tomato, deep-fry them in the pot until well-done. It's said that when Yongli emperor of Ming dynasty was exiled to Tengchong, he was miserable from hunger. A kind farmer cooked a big plate of erkuai for him. At that moment, Yongli emperor couldn't believe that there was a such delicious food existing in the world. He was indulged in the aftertaste and sighed with deep emotion "it rescued me!" So Dajiujia became aother name for Tengchong erkuai and sliced erkuai, whose fame got around rapidly.
Tounao
Tounao is a sort of nourished medicinal cuisine. The syrup contains three fatty pieces of mutton, a lotus root and a Chinese yam boiled in a bowl of flour paste. Add some Chinese chives on it while eating. Shaanxi Tounao has already been famous for a long time while Tengchong Tounano in Yunnan just appears.
On every second day of lunar January, in Tengchong Heshun, each son-in-law will go and greet to his parents-in-law at their homes, and his mothers-in-law will make a bowl of Tounao for him, which means they would have a beginning and an end in a year, hoping he is clear, auspicious and has a happy life. Tounao looks good and tastes fresh and sticky, which can build one's body well.
Dabaopian(big Light Pieces)
Dabaopian is a dish which tests the cook’s cutting skills. The main materials are pig's ear, tongue and mouth, of which the cooking method is unique. Wait until the well-done materials are cool down, then cut them into pieces as big as a palm, as light as a piece of paper. If you stick it on the wall, it won't drop, hence the name "Dabaopian" appears. Then you can eat it with ready-made seasonings.