春节,这个承载着无数情感与期待的节日,对许多人而言,也有“甜蜜的烦恼”。那句“每逢春节胖三斤”的戏言,背后是好吃好喝过后悄然增长的腰围与体重,让人不免生出几分无奈。而这一切的“甜蜜负担”,很大程度上源自那些令人难以抗拒的“热量炸弹”——炸年货,它们既是春节餐桌上的亮点,也是体重秤上的“隐形刺客”。
炸年货,俗称“过油”,寓意着“越过越有”。在山东,开油锅,几乎成了家家户户备年菜的“压轴大戏”。腊月二十七八,一口口大油锅在各家各户支起,热油翻腾,香气扑鼻。锅边,大人们忙碌于和面糊、切面片、挤丸子,孩子们则围着锅沿,期待着第一口热乎乎、香脆脆的“投喂”,往往是大人们还没炸完,孩子们的肚子已经吃得滚圆。
炸,这个自带画面和音效的词语,无疑是烘托年味儿的“氛围组”。从萝卜、豆腐、山药、莲藕,到肉、鱼、虾,这些日常平凡的食材,一旦进入油锅,便伴随着“吱啦”一声,开启了新年的热烈篇章。于是,家家户户炸货堆满,仿佛只有这满屋的炸香,才能勾勒出春节的轮廓。
炸年货十分讲究次序,面食先行,副食随后,而在副食之中,又讲究先淡后浓。这一份精心编排,确保了每一口炸货都能保持其独特的风味,是世代相传的智慧结晶。
炸面食中,麻叶、江丝、麻花等最是美味。尤其是那江丝,是小孩子们最期待的甜食之一。大人们在面团里揉进糖水,擀成大圆饼状,再叠起来切成一根根细长条状。当油锅冒起一层薄烟,江丝就可以下锅了。炸好的江丝甜而不腻,脆而带香,若是再裹上一层糖霜,更是美味无比。
而炸麻叶,是孩子们最乐于参与的环节。大人们将醒好的芝麻面团擀成薄如蝉翼的面片,将面片中间竖着划一刀,接下来孩子们便会把面片的一端从划缝里翻进去再拉出来,翻出的花样好看,炸出来也更酥脆。麻叶有咸有甜,大人们偏爱咸味儿,孩子们更喜甜,芝麻的香气和油面香味混合在一起,让人口齿生香,酥脆到一咬能掉下渣来。
为了保持炸面食的酥脆口感,大人们会待其冷却后精心分装,以待宾客临门时,再取出摆盘,那份香酥依旧,令人回味无穷。
炸完面食,便轮到既能当零嘴又能做菜的副食。炸丸子自是一马当先,几乎家家必备,从素到荤,可谓包罗万千,不仅美味可口,更寓意着团团圆圆。
这其中,传统的炸萝卜丸子最是让人百吃不厌。把萝卜剁碎,调上面粉、鸡蛋,加入盐和少许花椒粉,搅拌成有些黏稠的馅料。挖一把馅料,左手虎口一挤,用勺子往底部一刮,待铁锅里翻起层层油花时轻轻下锅,炸至七八分熟后捞出沥油,再复炸至金黄。炸好的萝卜丸子外酥里嫩、清爽鲜美,做汤亦是佳肴。
小酥肉应该是南北通吃的美味,无论是炸至酥脆直接入口,还是作为炖菜的配料,都令人赞不绝口。而藕盒也是家家年菜的专属,莲藕的清香与肉香混合,一口咬下去,拉出的藕丝亦增添了些许趣味。炸年货的另一个大件就数炸鲤鱼了,等年夜饭时将炸好的鱼一炖,好吃又省劲。炸完鱼后还有个讲究,就是要再切些豆腐块放进锅里讨个吉利,此番炸出来的豆腐名曰“鱼豆腐”,与“余都福”谐音,寓意着家有余财、人有福气。
一口炸年货,有人爱油香酥脆,有人喜暄软香甜,春节就是能如此和而不同。这些小小的炸货,承载着人们对新年的无限期待与祝福。在物质充裕的今天,这些源自故乡的滚烫油锅,以及那一盆盆、一筐筐充满年味儿的炸货,有着预制菜无法复制的温度与情感。它们如同金山般堆在灶台旁,成为游子归家后的第一口家常味道,也是离家时妈妈塞进行囊的叮咛嘱咐。在这些炸年货的香气中,我们感受到的不仅是年的味道,更是家的温暖与幸福。
编辑/刁艳杰
Deep-fried New Year food, commonly known as “Guoyou”, symbolizes “further affluence”. In Shandong, heating up oil in a wok has nearly become the “finale” of New Year food preparations for every household. On the 27th or 28th day of the 12th lunar month, every household may deep-fry food in a large wok, bringing a strong fragrance of hot oil. Standing by the wok, adults are busy kneading dough, slicing dough sheets, and making balls; crowding around the wok, children wait for their first bite of steaming hot, crisp food.
From turnip, tofu, Chinese yam and lotus root to meat, fish and prawn, after being poured into a wok filled with oil, these ordinary ingredients will open a warm chapter of the New Year with a “sizzling”sound. Hence, every household might prepare lots of deep-fried food, as if only the deep-frying scent could outline the Spring Festival.
For deep-fried New Year food, some like its oil scent and crisp taste; others like its soft texture and sweet taste. The Spring Festival maintains harmony in diversity. These small, deep-friend delicacies carry the people’s infinite expecta- tions and wishes for the New Year. In the current well-fed society, these scalding hot woks from the hometown, as well as those deepfried New Year delicacies boast warmth and emotions that cannot be duplicated by ready-made dishes. Piled by the cooking bench like a gold hill, these delicacies become returnees’ first bite of home food after they return home, and stand for their mothers’ advice when they leave home. Amid the fragrance of these deep-fried New Year delicacies, we could not only enjoy the taste of the New Year, but also feel the warmth and happiness of home.