晒萝卜干，湖南人过冬的生活标配

当冬日的阳光洒落在湖南农家小院时，晒萝卜干便成了最温情的仪式。不论在乡村还是城市，湖南人都保留着晒萝卜干的传统。在院子里、阳台一角或是楼顶天台上，你总能瞧见摆放整齐晒着“日光浴”的萝卜条。

When the winter sun shines upon the small farmyards in Hunan, drying radish strips turns into the most heartwarming ritual. Whether in rural areas or urban settings, the people of Hunan have preserved the tradition of drying radish strips. In the courtyard, at a corner of the balcony or on the rooftop terrace, one can always spot neatly arranged radish strips enjoying the “sunbath”.

湖南萝卜干又称为“湘菜之花”，是一道具有浓郁地方特色的美食。腌制萝卜干通常选用脆嫩汁多的白萝卜。将萝卜洗干净，切成条，放在太阳底下曝晒几天，待水分充分蒸发掉，就成了萝卜干，然后放进坛子里腌制。萝卜干的吃法多种多样，可以用来炒着吃，炖肉吃，或是直接食用，是湖南人饭桌上的宝藏菜品。

Hunan radish strips, also known as the “Flower of Hunan Cuisine”, is a delicacy with distinct local features. For pickling radish strips, usually the crisp, tender and juicy white radishes are selected. The radishes are washed, cut into strips and then dried in the sun for several days. When the moisture has been thoroughly evaporated, they become dried radish strips and are then placed into earthen jars for pickling. There are diverse ways to consume dried radish strips. They can be stir-fried, cooked with meat in a stew or eaten directly, making them a prized dish on the dining tables of Hunanese.