The Hot Pot

A legacy of northern China, this communal dish is said to have originated among the northern nomads before spreading to Beijing and beyond. It was a traditional dish of the Muslims, who subsisted on mutton and vegetables and ate no pork. Often referred to as a Mongolian hot pot, it called for placing a vessel holding a substantial stock or soup in the center of a table and heating the contents to a boil. Pieces of raw meat and vegetables were slipped into the hot liquid, where they cooked q