It is said that,"Four Joy Meatballs" was created during the Tang Dynasty.In a year, the imperial examination for the court was held in the capital city, and scholars from all over the country flocked to it.Among them was Zhang Jiuling.The results came out, and the poorly dressed Zhang Jiuling topped the list.Emperor admired Zhang Jiuling's intelligence and took him as his son-in-law.At that time, there was a flood in Zhang Jiuling's hometown, and his parents had left home and lost contact with each other.On the day of the wedding, Zhang Jiuling just found out about his parents' whereabouts and sent people to bring them to the capital city.When the dish was served, it turned out to be four meatballs that were thoroughly fried.and then steamed until cooked,with a sauce poured over them.Zhang Jiuling asked about the meaning of the dish. The clever chef replied, "This dish is called 'Four Rounds'.One joy, becoming top scorer in the imperial examination;two joys, getting married and starting a family;three joys, marrying into the royal family as a golden-crowned husband;four joys, reuniting with his parents." Zhang Jiuling laughed heartily and praised it. He said, "Let's call it 'Four Joy Meatballs' instead of 'Four Rounds', which sounds more pleasant to the ear."Since then, this dish has been a must-have on banquets for celebrations such as weddings.

Cuisine category: Shandong cuisine