Laoguasa is a famous kind of cooked wheaten food in Shaanxi province. It is similar to and larger than dough balls. Round in the middle and pointed at its two ends, it appears like the head of a crow.

The history of Laoguasa is said to be traceable back to the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24). Li Guang, a general officer of the Western Han Dynasty, ordered soldiers to cook dough in their helmets together with edible wild herbs.

The ingredients can be simple and versatile. Laoguasa can be made and mixed into a soup,  or it can be fried.

Laoguasa uses flour, tomatoes, bok choi (Chinese cabbage), eggs, and potatoes as a base, then adds many other ingredients, such as salt, vinegar, and green onions. However, the vegetables in the soup differ from one restaurant to another.

Laoguasa, a famous kind of cooked wheaten food in Shaanxi province. [Photo/Xi'an municipal bureau of commerce’s WeChat public account]