Alfalfa Greens with Pork Intestines 草头圈子
Alfalfa Greens with Pork Intestines is featured among the local specialties of Shanghai.
Caotou quanzi (草头圈子) pairs alfalfa greens with pork large intestines. The name hides an important ingredient: quanzi refers to the rings of intestine, so this is not simply a plate of green vegetables.
How it is prepared
The prepared intestines and greens form two contrasting parts of the finished dish. Shanghai's greenery bureau and local-history account identify the combination specifically, distinguishing it from a plain stir-fried caotou order.
Flavour & texture
The greens provide a fresh vegetal flavour alongside richer, softer offal. Their contrasting appearance also helps explain why the complete dish should not share a generic vegetable-only description.
Local context & naming
Caotou is the local food name used for the alfalfa greens in this combination. It is not an instruction to collect unidentified wild plants, and the presence of greens does not make the dish meat-free.
Ordering this dish
If you want only the greens, ask for a separate caotou vegetable dish and confirm its cooking fat. If you are trying intestines for the first time, share a small portion and judge the texture before ordering more.
At the table
Taste a little of each component together, then separately. Plain rice can make the rich part easier to portion across a meal; this is a suggested pairing rather than a fixed local rule.
Ingredients to check
Contains pork offal. Ask about soy-based sauces, cooking wine and the fat used for the greens.
More dishes to compare
Explore related local specialties and compare their names, preparation notes and ordering guidance.
Red-Braised Pork Hock 红烧蹄膀 →
Hongshao tibang (红烧蹄膀) is a pork hock cooked slowly in a dark, savoury-sweet braising liquid. It brings skin, fat, lean meat and bone together in a substantial dish suited to sharing.
Shanghai Rice with Greens 菜饭 →
Shanghai caifan (菜饭) combines rice with chopped greens. Many versions also contain cured pork or ham, and some use meat stock, so its literal name of vegetable rice does not establish a vegetarian meal.
Questions before you order
What are the rings in caotou quanzi?
They are pork large intestines. The dish should be listed with meat dishes, even though it includes greens.
Sources & reading
Identity, the described preparation and local context checked against the linked sources on 8 September 2026. Where a home recipe is cited, it is a documented example, not a restaurant standard. Ordering and serving suggestions are editorial guidance. No recipe testing, exclusive origin, current venue availability or dietary certification is claimed.
Recipes and servings vary between kitchens.