YILAN’S SANXING SCALLIONS
Scallions (also referred to as spring onion) are a common ingredient in Asian cooking used to garnish and flavor dishes, such as scallion oil chicken or scallion egg drop soup. But did you know scallions can also be the main ingredient in a recipe, such as stir-fry scallion? They are also the key ingredient in scallion pancake, steamed scallion buns, and scallion oil noodles, all popular snacks in Sanxing, where Taiwan’s tastiest scallions, dubbed “sanxing scallions” are grown.
The scallions grown in Sanxing County, Yilan are famous around Taiwan for their juiciness, nutritional value, and resistance to extreme climates. Often referred to as “four-season scallions”, these scallions feature a sharp peppery taste that, upon cooking, gives way to tasty sweetness. Their health benefits include preventing colds and providing the body with vitamins A, C, and calcium.
Sanxing’s location within the alluvial plain of the Lanyang River provides superior terroir, offering both clean alpine runoff for irrigation and fertile soil for cultivation. The scallions produced here are thick, tall, and feature a full flavor. Several farms in the area also offer ecotourism experiences that begin by donning a traditional bamboo hat and rain boots and following a farmer into the fields. Pick, wash, chop and cook your own scallions as you spend the day learning a little about being a farmer. End the experience by making a scallion pancake, scallion pie, or another scallion dish.
Originally a farmer’s snack, scallion pancake is made by dicing the whole scallion and rolling it into the dough, after which the dough is flattened and pan-fried until golden brown. Scallion pie is comparatively thinner as the dough is coiled instead of rolled. Like scallion pancakes, scallion pie is also fried until golden brown, ensuring delicious sweet crispiness with each bite.
Nearby Luodong is the commercial center of Yilan. Luodong Night Market features many authentic flavors, but the 30-year-old business, Yi Feng Scallion Pie, is particularly popular with locals and tourists alike. Made with locally sourced ingredients, including scallions from Sanxing, and cooked to a multilayered crispiness, their scallion pie is both mouthwatering and nutritious. To eat like a local, be sure to ask for an egg to be fried on top of your scallion pancake when you order.
For travelers traveling north from Jioujhihze Hot Springs or Qingshui Geothermal Park, a short detour to Luodong to sample Sanxing Scallion dishes and other local delicacies is an excellent way to re-energize on the long drive home. Another option would be to visit the Weng-Yao Chicken restaurant in Yilan where they serve stir-fried sanxing scallions.
