Chinese Breakfast Fried Dough Stick (You Tiao)

Pan-Chinese — folklore links you tiao to the execution of general Yue Fei; the original shape represented two people (traitors Qin Hui and his wife) being fried

You tiao (oil stick): the ubiquitous Chinese breakfast fried dough — pairs with soy milk (dou jiang), congee, or rice porridge across all regions. A leavened wheat dough enriched with salt and a small amount of oil, extruded in pairs (two strips pressed together) and deep-fried at 190°C until puffed, golden, and hollow. The pressing of two strips allows the you tiao to expand dramatically in the oil.

• Spanish churros (similar fried dough)
• Vietnamese quẩy (Vietnamese you tiao — same dish, identical origin)
• Indian jalebi (fried spiral dough in syrup)

Light, crispy, airy, lightly savoury — neutral enough to pair with both sweet soy milk and savoury congee