Any fried food lovers here? We are sure that you heard of or tried churros (吉拿棒, Jí ná bàng), which is a famous Spanish dessert. However, did you know that churros may have come to Spain from China?
Churros (吉拿棒) and Youtiao (油条). Are they the same? Photo: thenewslens
吉拿棒是西班牙的国民街头小吃,它的来源有两种说法,多数人认为它的前身是众所皆知的中式油条,因此也有人称它为西班牙油条,而油条大约发明于西元1142-1155 年间,原本是宋朝时人们对秦桧夫妇的泄恨的替代物,因为刚好美味而流传下来,成了常见的中式早餐选择,一直到了15 世纪大航海时代时,葡萄牙人到了中国(已是明朝 ),因为喜爱这项甜点,而成了带回欧洲的战利品之一,再一路传到西班牙。
街头小吃 (Jiētóu xiǎochī) - street food
前身 (Qiánshēn) - predecessor
众所皆知 (Zhòng suǒ jiē zhī) - well-known, known by everyone
油條 (Yóutiáo) - fried dough sticks, a popular Chinese breakfast
油条是中国众所皆知的街头小吃。Youtiao is China’s well-known street food.
宋朝 (Sòng cháo) - Song Dynasty
秦桧夫妇 (Qín Huì fūfù) - Qin Hui and his wife (see below)
泄恨 (Xièhèn) - hatred
替代物 (Tìdài wù) - a substitute, a replacement
流传 (Liúchuán) - to spread
油条可能从中国流传到西班牙。Youtiao may have spread from China to Spain.
大航海时代 (Dà hánghǎi shídài) - The Age of Sail
大航海时代 (地理大发现) 指从15世纪到17世纪时期。该时期内,欧洲的船队出现在世界各处的海洋上,寻找着新的贸易路线和贸易伙伴。The Age of Sail (The Age of Discovery) refers to the period from the 15th to the 17th century. During this time, European fleets appeared on the world's oceans, looking for new trade routes and trading partners.
战利品 (Zhànlìpǐn) - a loot
另一个说法是,吉拿棒的西班牙文为「Los Churros」,也是羊角的意思,相传是牧羊人们为自己准备在山上可以方便食用的点心,准备程序也很简单,免烘烤免发酵,快速 油炸即可,而其外型就像羊角,故名之。
牧羊人 (Mùyáng rén) - shepherd
烘烤 (Hōngkǎo) - to bake
发酵 (Fāxiào) - fermentation
故名之 (Gù míng zhī) - Hence the name
Time for a bit of Chinese history!
The story of Qin Hui and his wife: the legendary origins of youtiao
China’s favourite fried dough sticks have an interesting story behind them. It has to do with… two traitors from the Song Dynasty.
Figures of Qin Hui and his wife. Photo: setn.com
你们知道油条的由来吗? 据说是和南北宋期间的一个传奇人物有关,他就是秦桧。
传奇人物 (Chuánqí rénwù) - a legendary person
秦桧,本来是一位知名的抗金义士。 此后,秦桧辅佐宋高宗,担任宰相一职。 另一方面,秦桧在南宋朝廷内属于主和派,力求对金朝妥协求和,反对主战派的势力。
抗金义士 (Kàng jīn yìshì) - a hero who fought against Jin dynasty; 义士 (yìshì) - a righteous man
辅佐 (Fǔzuǒ) - to assist
宋高宗 (Sònggāozōng) - Emperor Gaozong of Song
担任 (Dānrèn) - to take charge of
宰相 (Zǎixiàng) - Grand chancellor, a position in ancient China
廷 (Tíng) - court of a feudal ruler
主和派 (Zhǔ hé pài) - pro-peace party; opp. 主战派: pro-war party
力求 (Lìqiú) - to strive to
妥协求和 (Tuǒxié qiúhé) - compromise and peace
宋高宗在秦桧的帮助下解除了岳飞和韩世忠等人的军权,以「莫须有」的谋反罪状杀害岳飞父子。 之后还和金朝签订了极有争议的「绍兴和议」,从此遭民间广泛痛恨,被视为汉奸、卖国贼。
岳飞和韩世忠 (Yuèfēi hé hánshìzhōng) - Yue Fei and Han Shizhong, two Song dynasty military generals
莫须有 (Mò xūyǒu) - unnecessary
谋反罪 (Móufǎn zuì) - treason
极有争议 (Jí yǒu zhēngyì) - very controversial
遭 (Zāo) - suffered
汉奸 (Hànjiān) - a traitor (lit. a traitor of the Han)
卖国贼 (Màiguózéi) - a traitor (lit. someone who sells their country)
据说在西湖的一间烧饼铺有一位叫王小二的人,就把秦桧和他的妻子王氏,两人的模样捏制成面饼,并将面饼背靠背黏着放入油锅里炸 ,边炸还边喊着:「大家快看『油炸桧』啦!」吸引到不少人上前凑热闹。
烧饼铺 (Shāobǐng pù) - a Shaobing (type of fried bread) shop;
捏制 (Niē zhì) - to knead
黏 (nián) - sticky, glutinous
凑热闹 (Còurènào) - to join in the fun; to add trouble
Youtiao has a long shape of two sticks fried together, meant to represent Qin Hui and his wife. Photo: seriouseats
Who would have thought that simple youtiao had such a complicated backstory? How do you think, did Spanish churros (吉拿棒) indeed originate from China?
Antoine & Dorota