''Lou mei'' is the Cantonese name given to dishes made by braising in a sauce known as a

master stock A master stock or master sauce () is a Stock (food), stock which is repeatedly reused to Poaching (cooking), poach or Braising, braise meats. It has its origins in Chinese cuisine and is typically used in Cantonese cuisine, Cantonese and Fujian c ...

or ''lou'' sauce ( or ). The dish is known as ''lu wei'' in Taiwan. ''Lou mei'' can be made from meat,

offal Offal (), also called variety meats, pluck or organ meats, is the organs of a butchered animal. The word does not refer to a particular list of edible organs, which varies by culture and region, but usually excludes muscle. Offal may also refe ...

, and other off-cuts. The most common varieties are

beef Beef is the culinary name for meat from cattle (''Bos taurus''). In prehistoric times, humankind hunted aurochs and later domesticated them. Since that time, numerous breeds of cattle have been bred specifically for the quality or quantity ...

pork Pork is the culinary name for the meat of the domestic pig (''Sus domesticus''). It is the most commonly consumed meat worldwide, with evidence of pig husbandry dating back to 5000 BCE. Pork is eaten both freshly cooked and preserved; ...

duck Duck is the common name for numerous species of waterfowl in the family Anatidae. Ducks are generally smaller and shorter-necked than swans and geese, which are members of the same family. Divided among several subfamilies, they are a form t ...

and

chicken The chicken (''Gallus gallus domesticus'') is a domesticated junglefowl species, with attributes of wild species such as the grey and the Ceylon junglefowl that are originally from Southeastern Asia. Rooster or cock is a term for an adult m ...

. A

vegan Veganism is the practice of abstaining from the use of animal product—particularly in diet—and an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of animals. An individual who follows the diet or philosophy is known as a vegan. Di ...

meat analogue A meat alternative or meat substitute (also called plant-based meat or fake meat, sometimes pejoratively) is a food product made from vegetarian or vegan ingredients, eaten as a replacement for meat. Meat alternatives typically approximate qua ...

''zaai lou mei'', made with wheat gluten, is commonly found in Hong Kong. ''Lou mei'' originates in Southern China, is a core part of

Hokkien The Hokkien () variety of Chinese is a Southern Min language native to and originating from the Minnan region, where it is widely spoken in the south-eastern part of Fujian in southeastern mainland China. It is one of the national languages in ...

and

Teochew cuisine Chaoshan cuisine, also known as Chiuchow cuisine, Chaozhou cuisine or Teo-swa cuisine, originated from the Chaoshan region in the eastern part of China's Guangdong Province, which includes the cities of Chaozhou, Shantou and Jieyang. Chaos ...

, and is widely available in China and Taiwan with many regional varieties. Selections vary greatly among overseas

Chinatown A Chinatown () is an ethnic enclave of Chinese people located outside Greater China, most often in an urban setting. Areas known as "Chinatown" exist throughout the world, including Europe, North America, South America, Asia, Africa and Austra ...

s often depending on the immigrant mix. ''Lou mei'' can be served cold or hot. Cold ''lou mei'' is often served with a side of hot braising liquid for immediate mixing. Hot ''lou mei'' is often served directly from the pot of braising liquid.

Varieties

Common varieties include: * Chinese stewed chicken () * Chinese stewed duck () * Duck/goose meat () * Chicken wings () * Duck flippers () * Chicken claw () * Tofu () * Pig's ear () * Steamed fish intestines () * Stir-fried fish intestines () * Beef entrails () * Beef brisket () * Duck

gizzard The gizzard, also referred to as the ventriculus, gastric mill, and gigerium, is an organ found in the digestive tract of some animals, including archosaurs (pterosaurs, crocodiles, alligators, dinosaurs, birds), earthworms, some gastropods, so ...

() * Pig tongue () * pork hock () * Pig's blood () * spiced corned egg () *

Kelp Kelps are large brown algae seaweeds that make up the order Laminariales. There are about 30 different genera. Despite its appearance, kelp is not a plant - it is a heterokont, a completely unrelated group of organisms. Kelp grows in "underwat ...

() * Vegetarian ()

Varieties

See also