Want a Chinese culinary adventure that’s both affordable and easily accessible? Tune in to our latest segment on Cheap Eats at Dubai92, where one of our founding sisters, Arva, shares an irresistible discovery.
What’s This Week’s Cheap Eat?
This week, Arva takes us to Fujian Snacks in Deira, a humble spot that’s more than meets the eye. While it outwardly looks like a dedicated hot pot, spot, their chef from the Fujian province serves up a host of other intriguing dishes that are worth at try. Join us as Arva recounts her experience with the “poached mutton in chili oil”—a dish that stuns your tongue with its combination of numbing Sichuan peppercorns and fiery chili peppers. Learn about the world of ma la and explore a meal that’s not just about the taste, but a complete sensory journey.
You can find Fujian Snacks on Google Maps here.
What Their Poached Mutton In Chili Oil Looks Like
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Tune In
Give the audio a listen or read the transcript to find out more about Arva’s visit to this understated eatery.
Transcript
Jono:
Dubai 92, it’s John and Nats and it is time for a weekly tantalization of taste buds.
Nats:
Yes, and this week we’re chatting to Arva one of two of the Frying Pan Adventure sisters. How you doing?
Arva:
Fantastic.
Jono:
We always like speaking to you because you always kind of give us something that we think hmm… I wasn’t hungry until Arva opened her mouth. Now here we go and we want to get whatever it is that Arva’s mentioned this week. So where are you taking to us and what are we going to be sampling?
Arva:
Alright, I don’t know whether you’re going to be hungry after this one, it’s a little bit of a tricky one. We’re gonna go to Fujian Snacks which is in Deira and I tried something that I think is totally worth going back with at least two other people because the portion sizes are quite huge. It’s a hot pot place but I did not get hot pot. I actually got their mutton, their poached mutton in chili oil.
Nats:
Poached mutton in chili oil. I’ve never had that.
Arva:
It’s not the kind of dish where you look at it. It doesn’t even sound appetizing like poached mutton in chili oil does not sound appetizing for 45 dirhams. That is not the kind of dish you would normally think of getting but actually that mutton is like these little juicy nuggets of mutton that have been submerged in a swimming pool of Ma la substance. Do you guys know what ma la is?
Jono:
What’s ma la, what is that?
Arva:
Okay, ma la is the Chinese term for hot and numbing. So it’s a combination of yes, chili oil and hot red chili peppers, but they’re also pairing it with, Sichuan peppers. And what happens then is like Sichuan peppers has a very different sensory experience. It’s not spicy, they tend to be pungent. And as one of my favorite cookbooks… not a cookbook, but like a food science author describes it, Harold McGee, he’s like, it’s like touching a nine-volt battery to the tip of your tongue. It’s a mild electric current.
Jono:
Nice.
Arva:
Okay, so what happens is your tongue is going ding ding ding ding ding, it’s vibrating, there’s like this, you know, extreme sensitivity, and then you’re gonna assault it with chili and also the Sichuan pepper has a lemony aftertaste. So it’s the time where you kind of want to keep going back in there despite the pain. It is a fantastic experience.
Nats:
I’m very afraid Avra! You’ve never made me afraid about going somewhere to eat with you, but now I’m like, I don’t know if I’m ready for this Chili.
Arva:
Honestly, I don’t eat chili, right? But this is the one thing I actually crave anything Ma la. 45 dirhams for a massive broth like massive that you can easily share across three to four people. I do not recommend that this is the kind of thing you pack and take away because the more it’s that the mutton sits in the chili oil, it gets deadlier and deadlier as my parents realized after the fact I… I had some situations at home. But it was absolutely incredible, I highly recommend you try it. It will not kill you, It will not kill you. I am alive.
Nats:
You know what’s so funny is she doesn’t eat spicy food and she is championing this.
Arva:
And the beauty of it is it’s right by the Al Rigga Metro Station. So, if you’re going to make the trip down, just take the metro, skip the traffic. You know, you don’t have to hurl yourself all the way to international city. It is super convenient to get to and definitely try that dish because usually people just end up getting the hotpot, which I’m sure is fantastic. But this one if you want an interesting experience that will not blow your head off, but just create this very fascinating experience on your tongue. I highly recommend you try it.
Nats:
When I’m a little braver, I definitely will take you up on it.
Jono:
Arva, thank you for the party in your mouth that everyone’s invited to this week. I appreciate you and appreciate Cheap Eats from Frying Pan Adventures. Arva, thank you.
Arva:
Always a pleasure. Have a scrumptious week ahead guys.
Find out where to find Myanmar’s unofficial national dish – Mohinga in Dubai here.
