A banquet mix of sea cucumber, fish maw, squid, ham, chicken, tofu and mushroom, simmered together in a good stock.
What makes it li hongzhang hotchpotch
Many ingredients, luxuries and everyday things together.
Sea cucumber, fish maw, squid and ham among them.
Simmered together in stock, not stir-fried.
Where it comes from
Named for Li Hongzhang, the Hefei-born statesman of the late Qing dynasty. The stories vary: one says it was put together for him from whatever the kitchen had; another ties it to his visit to the United States in 1896 — the same story often told of chop suey.