Cao’s grilled pork knuckle

Grilled pork knuckle

Cao’s grilled pork knuckle is a distinctive meat product in Pingyao and once well-known over the world as a royal recipe.

As indicated by the legend, Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu passed by Pingyao on their journey west journey in the 26th year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu (1900). The magistrate Shen Shizao prepared a banquet to welcome their arrival. Cao’s grilled pork knuckle was a tribute and praised by Empress Dowager Cixi and others. As is well-known, the magistrate of Pingyao county assigned a special person to send Cao’s grilled pork knuckle to the palace to award imperial princes and court ministers.

Cao’s grilled pork knuckle is based on rigid sorting and unique techniques. Wuwei, a recluse in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), presented a poem entitled Grilled Pork Knuckle: “The color induces Empress Dowager Cixi to stagger; the taste intoxicates the ministers to offer praise. It is the most popular dish among royals; the irreplaceable treasure on the earth is from the Cao family.”