''Lou mei'' is the Cantonese name given to dishes made by braising in a sauce known as a

master stock A master stock or master sauce () is a Stock (food), stock which is repeatedly reused to Poaching (cooking), poach or Braising, braise meats. It has its origins in Teochew cuisine and is typically used in Cantonese cuisine, Cantonese and Fujian cu ...

or ''lou'' sauce ( or ). The dish is known as ''Lǔ wèi'' in

Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia. The main geography of Taiwan, island of Taiwan, also known as ''Formosa'', lies between the East China Sea, East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocea ...

. ''Lou mei'' can be made from meat,

offal Offal (), also called variety meats, pluck or organ meats, is the internal organ (anatomy), organs of a butchered animal. Offal may also refer to the by-products of Milling (grinding), milled grains, such as corn or wheat. Some cultures strong ...

, and other off-cuts. The most common varieties are

beef Beef is the culinary name for meat from cattle (''Bos taurus''). Beef can be prepared in various ways; Cut of beef, cuts are often used for steak, which can be cooked to varying degrees of doneness, while trimmings are often Ground beef, grou ...

pork Pork is the culinary name for the meat of the pig (''Sus domesticus''). It is the most commonly consumed meat worldwide, with evidence of pig animal husbandry, husbandry dating back to 8000–9000 BCE. Pork is eaten both freshly cooke ...

duck Duck is the common name for numerous species of waterfowl in the family (biology), family Anatidae. Ducks are generally smaller and shorter-necked than swans and goose, geese, which are members of the same family. Divided among several subfam ...

and

chicken The chicken (''Gallus gallus domesticus'') is a domesticated subspecies of the red junglefowl (''Gallus gallus''), originally native to Southeast Asia. It was first domesticated around 8,000 years ago and is now one of the most common and w ...

. A

vegan Veganism is the practice of abstaining from the use of animal products and the consumption of animal source foods, and an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of animals. A person who practices veganism is known as a ve ...

meat analogue A meat alternative or meat substitute (also called plant-based meat, mock meat, or alternative protein), is a food product made from vegetarian or vegan ingredients, eaten as a replacement for meat. Meat alternatives typically approximate qual ...

''zaai lou mei'', made with wheat gluten, is commonly found in Hong Kong. ''Lou mei'' originates in Southern China, is a core part of

Hokkien Hokkien ( , ) is a Varieties of Chinese, variety of the Southern Min group of Chinese language, Chinese languages. Native to and originating from the Minnan region in the southeastern part of Fujian in southeastern China, it is also referred ...

and

Teochew cuisine Teochew cuisine, also known as Chiuchow cuisine, Chaozhou cuisine or Teo-swa cuisine, originated from the Chaoshan region in the eastern part of China's Guangdong Province, which includes the cities of Chaozhou, Shantou and Jieyang. Teoch ...

, and is widely available in China and Taiwan with many regional varieties. Selections vary greatly among overseas

Chinatown Chinatown ( zh, t=唐人街) is the catch-all name for an ethnic enclave of Chinese people located outside Greater China, most often in an urban setting. Areas known as "Chinatown" exist throughout the world, including Europe, Asia, Africa, O ...

s often depending on the immigrant mix. ''Lou mei'' can be served cold or hot. Cold ''lou mei'' is often served with a side of hot braising liquid for immediate mixing. Hot ''lou mei'' is often served directly from the pot of braising liquid.

Varieties

Common varieties include: * Chinese stewed chicken () * Chinese stewed duck () * Duck/goose meat () * Chicken wings () * Duck flippers () * Chicken claw () * Tofu () * Pig's ear () * Steamed fish intestines () * Stir-fried fish intestines () * Beef entrails () * Beef brisket () * Duck

gizzard The gizzard, also referred to as the ventriculus, gastric mill, and gigerium, is an organ found in the digestive tract of some animals, including archosaurs (birds and other dinosaurs, crocodiles, alligators, pterosaurs), earthworms, some gast ...

() * Pig tongue () * pork hock () * Pig's blood () * spiced corned egg () *

Kelp Kelps are large brown algae or seaweeds that make up the order (biology), order Laminariales. There are about 30 different genus, genera. Despite its appearance and use of photosynthesis in chloroplasts, kelp is technically not a plant but a str ...

() * Vegetarian ()

Gallery

File:HK TST 尖沙咀 Tsim Sha Tsui 北京道 Peking Road 樂道 1-3 Lock Road 永樂大樓 Wing Lok House snack shop Ngan Kee snack food September 2021 SS2 03.jpg File:Night market Taiwan 2013 2 amk.jpg File:A Lu-wei vendor at Raohe Street Night Market 20090320.jpg File:2007-10-24 Lou Mei in Taipei.jpg

Varieties

Gallery

See also