拥有壮美自然景观的山东，钟灵毓秀，美不胜收；拥有“孔孟之乡、礼仪之邦”美誉的山东，历史悠久，文化灿烂；拥有大气鲁菜和精致小吃的山东，热气腾腾，珍馐飘香......《In Shandong》原创英文系列视频，邀请外国友人一起品鉴山东的“颜值”“滋味”和“内涵”，一起走近勤劳聪慧的山东人。

　　In 2021, there was a lot of attention on Cao County in Shandong Province, known for its abundant memes online.However, apart from having the nickname, “the center of the universe,” it is actually a food-rich county known for its unique cuisine which incorporates elements from neighboring provinces of Henan and Anhui.

　　2021年，山东曹县曾红出了圈，网络上关于它的段子层出不穷。其实，被称为“宇宙中心”的曹县还是个美食大县，由于它毗邻河南和安徽，饮食风格兼具了三省特色，既包容又独特。

　　Among the many delicacies, "Cao County Roasted Beef" is a traditional dish that has a long history, and has been famous for its perfect color, flavor, and taste. The beef is tender in taste, strong in aroma, and tight in texture.In 2013, the traditional production technique of Cao County Roasted Beef was selected intothe third batch of Shandong provincial intangible cultural heritage.

　　在诸多美食中，曹县烧牛肉久负盛名，具有色、香、味、美、肉质鲜嫩、香味浓郁、熟而不散的优点。2013年，曹县烧牛肉传统制作技艺入选山东省级非遗名录第三批名录。

　　Cao County Roasted Beef was originally created by the Hui people in Cao County, and it has a long history. It uses yellow cattle from Southwest Shandong as the raw material which requires a unique cooking technique.To prevent beef from rotting and deteriorating, the Hui people, over the long history, gradually explored the method using salt pickling to extend its storage time and adding spices to increase its flavor and freshness.This has been developed and passed down through generations, which becomes today's Cao County Roasted Beef.

　　曹县烧牛肉是曹县回族人民独创的，具有悠久的历史，它以鲁西南黄牛为制作原料，制作工艺独特。为防止牛肉腐烂变质，回族群众在漫长的历史中，逐步探索出用盐腌渍来延长其存放时间，再添加香料以增加其味道鲜美的做法。经历传承发展，形成了今天的曹县烧牛肉。

　　Beef from Southwest Shandong yellow cattle aged 1 year old or 2 is used as the raw material, and it is marinated with various seasonings. Roasted over a low heat and dried, the beef is then fried with sesame oil.The finished dish is red and bright with the beef being tender and compact. With no unpleasant smell, it tastes fragrant but not greasy.The traditional methods of cooking beef in other areas include steaming, boiling, braising, and stewing, with the majority of the dishes being spiced or sauced. However, the Cao County Roasted Beef is different and is characterized by its color, aroma and flavor,requiring over ten steps of the cooking process, in which frying is the final and most crucial one. If the oil temperature is too high, the beef will be burned; otherwise, it will be greasy.The frying method is innovative: the boiled beef is slowly put in the pan and slightly fried to medium well in sesame oil, then it’s ready to serve.The finished beef is reddish-brown in color, and it should be cut into thin slices and served on a plate without any additional seasoning.However, it is best not to slice the beef when it is hot. When eating, it can be cut into pieces and sandwiched in baked sesame cakes, which offers a long-lasting aftertaste.

　　选1-2年的鲁西南黄公牛作原料，加各种调料加以腌透，细火烧熟后凉干，再用小磨香油烹、炸。成品色泽红润鲜亮，肉质鲜嫩、紧凑，无膻味，香味醇厚而不腻。外地牛肉的做法一般是蒸、煮、焖、炖，成品以五香牛肉、酱牛肉居多，而曹县烧牛肉却与众不同，色香味俱全，经过十余道工序，关键的最后一关是“油炸”。油温高则焦，油凉则腻。曹县烧牛肉的炸制方法很新奇：锅内放小磨香油，烧至五、六成熟时，将煮好的牛肉缓缓放入稍炸捞出即可食用，成品牛肉呈红褐色，食用时切成薄片排在碟内，不用加任何佐料即可上席。不过热牛肉不宜切片，吃时可切块夹在烧饼内，余香留长。

　　The Cao County Roasted Beef is just like the characters of Shandong people --genuine and substantial. It can weigh over one catty with only two orthree pieces of the beef, guaranteed with no adulteration.The fried beef is easy to store, especially during autumn and winter. It can be stored at room temperature for a few days without affecting the quality, and can be used as a fashionable gift when visiting friends and feasting guests.

　　曹县烧牛肉正如山东人的性格——实在，二、三块便有一斤，绝不含水份。油炸后的牛肉宜存放，特别是秋冬时节，常温下存放几日不会影响质量，可作为走亲访友、宴请宾朋的时尚礼品。

　　橡果工作室出品

　　视频：周溪琳

　　文案：武玮佳、徐立璇（实习编辑）

　　配音：武玮佳

　　策划：辛然

　　（部分素材来源：新华社《千城早餐》、《中国推介》、文旅山东、山东农科频道、曹县融媒、网信菏泽）