Youtiao
Yóutiáo (油條; literally "oil strip"), or in Cantonese Yau Ja Gwai (油炸鬼; pinyin: yóuzháguǐ; Yale Cantonese: yau4 ja3 gwai2), are golden brown Chinese fried crullers. Conventionally, yóutiáo are lightly salted and made so they can be torn lengthwise in two.
The Cantonese name "yau ja gwai" literally means "oil-fried devil" and, according to tradition, is an act of protest against Song Dynasty official Qin Kuai (秦檜), who is said to have orchestated the plot to frame the general Yue Fei (岳飛), an icon of patriotism in Chinese culture.
At breakfast, youtiao can be stuffed inside shāobǐng (燒餅; sesame flatbread) to make a sandwich.
Yóutiáo wrapped in a white rice flour sheet is known as zháliǎng (炸兩; Yale Cantonese: ja3 leung5; literally "fried double") and is served cut into pieces which are sprinkled with soy sauce and dipped in hoisin or peanut sauce as dim sum or a breakfast dish.
Cow tongue pastry (牛脷酥) is similar but elliptical in shape and sweet, whereas yóutiáo is consumed with both sweet and savory foods such as sweet soy milk or congee. Like yóutiáo, cow tongue pastry is a popular breakfast food.