Braised pork intestine with caotou greens

At the table

How to enjoy it

Try a piece of intestine with the greens and plain rice. To check the name, ask “圈子是猪大肠吗？” (“Does quanzi mean pork large intestine?”).

A useful check

Contains pork offal. Baijiu, cooking wine and wheat-containing soy sauce may be used; do not assume the dish is alcohol-free or vegetarian. The intestine can remain chewy even when tender. Ask about ingredients if you have dietary restrictions.

How it may vary

This braised-intestine version uses star anise and soy sauce, with baijiu in the greens. Some versions add pepper, MSG or a starch-thickened sauce. Ask how it is prepared if you avoid alcohol or particular seasonings.

GET TO KNOW THE DISH

What goes into it?

Explore some key ingredients below. Preparations may use additional seasonings and ingredients.

Baijiu can season the greens, while cooking wine goes into the braise. Star anise or a little starch-thickened sauce may be used.

Typical ingredients

AI-generated ingredient illustration: cleaned uncooked pork large intestine portions with folded walls and an open hollow cut end.

Pork intestine猪肠

AI-generated editorial illustration of Caotou greens (bur clover).

Caotou greens (bur clover)草头

Generated guide illustration of soy sauce; not a restaurant or product photograph.

Soy sauce醬油

Generated guide illustration of ginger; not a restaurant or product photograph.

Ginger姜

AI-generated ingredient illustration of fresh scallions, with white bulbs, roots, and tubular green leaves.

Scallions葱

Generated guide illustration of sugar; not product evidence.

Sugar糖

AI-generated ingredient illustration: pale golden liquid cooking oil in a bowl, shown as one possible appearance.

Cooking oil食用油

Colorless baijiu in a generic unbranded glass bottle and small clear tasting cup.

Baijiu for cooking白酒

AI-generated ingredient illustration: clear amber cooking wine in a bowl, one yellow-rice-wine appearance.

Cooking wine料酒

Generated guide illustration of star anise.

Star anise八角

Generated guide illustration of salt; not a restaurant or product photograph.

Salt食盐

In some versions

Generated guide illustration of powdered cooking starch; its crop is unspecified in the dish reference.

Culinary starch淀粉

AI-generated ingredient illustration: ground black pepper with irregular dark skin flecks and lighter interior fragments, one common pepper form.

Pepper胡椒

AI-generated ingredient illustration: white to translucent monosodium glutamate seasoning crystals in a small dish.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG)味精

Recipes vary by restaurant.

How does it taste?

Rich soy-braised pork with fresh greens and a wine aroma.

Chili heat
Texture: Tender, slightly chewy intestine and soft leafy greens.
How it’s made: Braise cleaned intestine in soy sauce with aromatics until tender; quickly stir-fry the caotou separately, often with baijiu, and serve the two together.

Baijiu can season the greens, while cooking wine goes into the braise. Star anise or a little starch-thickened sauce may be used.

A CONNECTION TO PLACE

Origin & regional roots

Explore regional food

Associated with Shanghai.

About this regional connection

Shanghai: Associated with Shanghai Benbang cooking.

Ask if they have it first

ASK IF IT'S AVAILABLE

请问你们有草头圈子吗？

Do you have this item?

A LITTLE SOMETHING TO READ

Story & history

Two dishes meet on one plate

This account describes a tradition or story, rather than an established historical fact.

Caotou quanzi combines red-braised pork large intestine with quickly stir-fried caotou, the tender shoots of southern bur clover. In Shanghai, quanzi refers to the intestine rings. The greens take up some of the rich sauce, making this a familiar pairing for shared meals and festive tables.