What Is So Special About Mongolian Barbecue?

The Truth About Mongolian Barbecue: From Traditional Feasts to Modern Grills

"Mongolian Barbecue" is a popular dining concept across the United States, conjuring images of sizzling meats and vegetables on a large, flat-top grill. However, the interactive stir-fry experience many of us know is quite different from the traditional culinary practices of Mongolia. The history and food of the Mongolian people are rooted in a nomadic, pastoral lifestyle, resulting in a hearty, meat-and-dairy-focused cuisine. This article explores the interactive restaurant style known as Mongolian Barbecue, the authentic celebratory dishes of Mongolia, and how you can create inspired versions at home.

The "Mongolian Barbecue" We Know: An Interactive Stir-Fry Experience

The style of restaurant most Americans recognize as Mongolian Barbecue is a fun, interactive experience that was, surprisingly, invented in Taiwan in the 1950s, not Mongolia. It was named to sound exotic and exciting. The process is a culinary adventure for guests:

• Preparation: The restaurant provides platters of thinly sliced meats (like beef, pork, or lamb) cut across the grain, alongside a wide array of fresh vegetables.

• The Sauce: A signature sauce is prepared, often with a base of soy sauce and garlic, simmered and cooled, then infused with ingredients like wine, sugar, ginger root, scallions, and Chinese parsley (cilantro).

  
  
  

• Guest Interaction: Diners assemble their own bowls with their preferred meats and vegetables. They then take their creation to a large, round, solid grill where a chef cooks it for them, often adding the sauce during the process. An alternative method for home enjoyment involves placing a smaller cooking appliance on a center table. Guests place small portions on the hot, greased surface, spoon sauce over the food, and flip it after about a minute with chopsticks until cooked to their desired doneness.

Authentic Mongolian Cuisine: Feasts of the Steppe

Traditional Mongolian cuisine is shaped by its nomadic heritage and the harsh climate of the steppes, leading to a natural dependence on animal products.

• Roasted Lamb: The ultimate traditional delicacy, whole roasted lamb, is often prepared in honor of special guests or for major celebrations like weddings and birthdays. It is customary for the guest of honor to first cut a piece from the fatty tail to taste, officially beginning the festivities. Cooked mutton is also a staple.

• The National Meals: The most common national dishes are hearty, meat-filled dumplings: Buuz (steamed), Khuushuur (fried), and Bansh (boiled in soup or water). The minced meat filling can be anything from mutton and beef to camel, horse, or gazelle, typically seasoned simply with onion or garlic.

• Dairy Culture: Reflecting the importance of livestock, dairy is central to the diet. Notably, Mongolians traditionally consume large quantities of soured dairy products in the summer, including sour goat milk, which is believed to cleanse the stomach, rather than fresh cow's milk.

Grilling at Home: A Mongolian-Inspired Lamb Recipe

You can capture the spirit of Mongolian flavors with this grilled lamb lettuce wrap recipe:

1. Place all your lamb ingredients (such as lamb pieces, soy sauce, garlic, ginger) in a flameproof dish. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cover and cook for about 2 hours until the lamb is tender.

2. Pre-heat an outdoor grill or indoor grill pan to high heat.

3. Transfer the cooked lamb to the grill and cook until the skin is crispy and charred.

4. Meanwhile, warm the remaining sauce from the dish for 10-15 minutes, allowing it to thicken.

5. Let the cooked lamb rest and cool for about 15 minutes. Remove any bones and shred the meat.

6. To serve, arrange the shredded lamb on a platter. Allow guests to take a piece of lettuce, add some spicy hot sauce, cucumber, spring onions, and the grilled lamb, and roll it up into a delicious parcel.

While the "Mongolian Barbecue" found in American restaurants may not be an authentic dish from Mongolia, it offers a fun and delicious interactive dining experience. It stands in contrast to the true cuisine of Mongolia, which is a rich and hearty tradition built around roasted meats, savory dumplings, and dairy, perfectly adapted to a nomadic lifestyle. By understanding both, we can appreciate two different, yet equally flavorful, culinary worlds.

Sources:

• Culinary and historical accounts of Mongolian cuisine

• Food history resources on the origin of "Mongolian Barbecue"

• Travel guides and cultural resources for Mongolia

• Various online recipe sites for Mongolian-inspired dishes