For a Quick and Meaty Snack, Try Roupidong

I'm on a diet now (or I keep telling myself I am) but seeing as it's a Friday afternoon I decided to treat myself to a delicious snack. You may have your favorite Italian meatballs or chicken nuggets, but for me, a 肉皮冻 ròu pí dòng, or pigskin jelly, is hands down the tastiest of all animal protein ever. If you’ve never had it before, you'll certainly going to be impressed by this delicious treat in and of itself.

This dish, made from pork rind and spiced stock, is a must have on the dinner table for many in northern China. That's because it makes for a great side dish to pair with lettuces or seaweeds or any cold dishes that come to your mind.

Depending on how much you season it, the color generally gets darker with more dressing. The texture is pretty much like jelly, and it will melt inside your mouth the second you bite into it. The use of vinegar and peppercorns lends a bit of sourness to the pork skin, and the entire dish tastes like a gelato ice-cream made out of pig skin, making it such a great snack to cool yourself down when the weather starts to get hotter each day.

If you ever order the snack from the restaurant or you want to make your pigskin jelly, make sure to put them in your freezer and take it out in advance when you are ready to eat. The best way is to let the dish defrost naturally and to not microwave it unless you're in a hurry. Are you excited to explore another Chinese snack this weekend? I know I am.

Read: Snack Attack: Shaobing Jia Rou, Beijing's Answer to the Roujiamo 

Images: Dianping