LOCAL FOOD GUIDE

Dancheng Ningping Fried Dough Twists 郸城宁平麻花

Dancheng Ningping Mahua

Dancheng Ningping Fried Dough Twists is featured among the local specialties of Henan.

AI illustration: A ceramic plate of small golden fried dough pastries with visible airy crisp texture.
AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非实拍）AI-generated visual reference; not a restaurant photograph. AI 示意图，仅供参考，非实拍。

Dancheng Ningping Fried Dough Twists (郸城宁平麻花) is a fried dough twist from Ningping (宁平), in Dancheng County (郸城县), Henan (河南). Its making technique entered Zhoukou's (周口) municipal intangible cultural heritage list in October 2010.

Ingredients and shaping

A Zhoukou Daily account of Liang Wenge's (梁文革) workshop describes local wheat flour, soybean oil and sesame oil, seasoned with salt, star anise, pepper and Sichuan pepper among more than ten seasonings. Workers knead the dough and coil and twist the rolled strips by hand.

Frying and texture

The twists are turned in hot oil until deep red, then lifted out, drained, spread out and cooled. Liang describes a brittle, crisp texture rather than a hard one. Zhao Zhen Mahua Shop (赵震麻花店) has also expanded from its original five-spice flavour into seaweed and spicy versions. The local craft demonstrations show the complete sequence from weighing ingredients and kneading to frying.

AI illustration: A small pile of golden-brown fried dough twists, clearly braided strands and crisp bubbled surfaces.
AI illustration · AI 示意图（菜式参考，非实拍） · 麻花 — A general serving example; recipes and presentation vary.

China Revealed · Last updated 2026-10-07

Sources & reading

Written from the linked sources and fact-checked against them on 2026-09-30. Recipes and servings vary between kitchens.