What Is Xi’an Meatball Hulatang? 肉丸胡辣汤 Explained

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Shaanxi · Soup

Xi’an Meatball Hulatang

肉丸胡辣汤

ròu wán hú là tāng

Xi’an’s thick, peppery breakfast soup with halal beef or lamb meatballs and vegetables.

Xi’an meatball hulatang with beef meatballs, potatoes, cabbage, carrots and cauliflower
Photo: AI-generated for Chinese Food Atlas · No reuse license granted
FromShaanxi
Eating occasionBreakfast
Dish typeSoup
FlavorPeppery · Savory · Warming

01

What is Xi’an Meatball Hulatang?

Xi’an’s thick, peppery breakfast soup with halal beef or lamb meatballs and vegetables.

02

Flavor profile

Peppery · Savory · Warming

Xi’an’s thick, peppery breakfast soup with halal beef or lamb meatballs and vegetables.

03

Key ingredients

Beef or lamb meatballs, beef or mutton broth, potatoes, cabbage, carrots or beans, pepper and starch.

This is a food guide, not a recipe. Ingredients and preparation vary between cooks, shops and cities.

04

How it is usually made

Meatballs and vegetables are simmered in seasoned broth, which is thickened before serving. This Xi’an Muslim-quarter style is distinct from Henan hulatang, which commonly uses wheat gluten and shredded ingredients.

05

Origin and food culture

Xi’an meatball hulatang belongs to the city’s Hui Muslim breakfast tradition. It should be distinguished from Henan hulatang, which has a different ingredient structure and seasoning profile.

The Xi’an bowl centers on halal beef or lamb meatballs and chunky vegetables in a peppery, starch-thickened broth, commonly eaten with bread in the morning.