Ma La Tu Tou (Spicy Rabbit Head)
Fiery, numbing rabbit heads eaten by hand
Think of it as: Like the spiciest buffalo wings, if wings had faces
It stares back. The cheeks are worth it.
What does it taste like?
Hot chili and tongue-tingling Sichuan pepper; tender meat and a creamy brain.
SweetSpicySourSaltyFunkSmellTextureTender, gelatinous, and creamy inside
What is it?
Chengdu's favorite drinking snack: whole rabbit heads braised with chilies and numbing Sichuan pepper. You put on plastic gloves, crack them open by hand, and go for the cheeks, tongue and brain.
How locals eat it
Eaten with disposable gloves and cold beer in Chengdu, usually as a late-night snack.
Watch it
More videos on YouTubeWhere is it from?
🇨🇳China
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✈ Check cheap flights Best timeApril to May and September to October, when it's neither too hot nor too cold, are best. Also tryPeking duckMapo tofuXiaolongbao More from here🖤 Century egg🥚 Tongzi Dan (Virgin Boy Eggs)🍜 Luosifen🐟 Chou Guiyu (Stinky Mandarin Fish)🦐 Drunken Shrimp
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MusicPeking opera Traditional theater of song, dialogue and acrobatic fighting
Listen on YouTube SportTable tennis (basketball is hugely popular too)
Ma Long (table tennis; six Olympic gold medals) World HeritageThe Great Wall and more National animalGiant panda (unofficial) FestivalSpring Festival (January-February, Lunar New Year)
Ingredients
- 6 rabbit heads
- 2 tbsp Sichuan peppercorns
- 20 dried chilies
- 2 star anise
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 knob ginger
- 3 tbsp chili oil
Can't find it? Rabbit heads are hard to find; chicken wings can carry the same seasoning.
How to make it (one way)
- Blanch the heads to remove blood and scum.
- Simmer for about an hour in a broth of Sichuan pepper, chilies, star anise, soy and ginger.
- Turn off the heat and let them soak up the flavor.
- Toss in chili oil and more Sichuan pepper.
- Glove up, split them by hand, and eat the cheeks, tongue and brain.
Get the ingredients (ad)
Sichuan peppercornsAmazon