Mala xiang guo

Mala xiang guo (traditional Chinese: 麻辣香鍋; simplified Chinese: 麻辣香锅; pinyin: málà xiāngguō), roughly translated into English as "spicy stir fry hot pot", is a Chinese dish prepared by stir frying. Strongly flavored with mala, it often contains meat and vegetables, and has a salty and spicy taste. The preparation process involves placing the required ingredients in the pot, stir frying and adding seasoning. In restaurants, customers usually choose the ingredients (meat and vegetables) by themselves before the chef prepares the dish.

The fiery dish originated from the Tujia people of Jinyun Mountain in Chongqing, China in the early 2000s. The name of the dish is self-descriptive, with "ma" meaning tongue-numbing and "la" meaning spiciness. The "spicy and tingling" sensation is a distinctive flavor feature of Sichuan cuisine, which is known for its bold use of spicy ingredients. Although it is a spicy dish, it is popular all over China for its complex flavor profile and affordability.

Mala xiang guo is served as a side dish or a main course, and paired with rice or noodles or eaten on its own. Individuals can customize it to their taste preferences, adjusting the level of spiciness and adding different vegetables and meats to make it more filling or to create unique flavor combinations.