Runbing, a delicacy with a rich history in worship customs, is made from a thin, crepe-like wrapper used to wrap a cooked filling into a roll. Runbing in some regions is sometimes referred to as a spring roll, but it is important to note that it is not fried like traditional spring rolls with crispy brown exteriors. The runbing wrapper is made by spreading a thin layer of high-gluten flour batter evenly onto a hot pan. The resulting white wrapper is soft and flexible.
潤餅的歷史悠久，長久以來人們會在祭拜時享用，是用薄薄的麵皮包裹煮熟的餡料。有的地方習慣將潤餅稱作春捲，但和傳統炸得外皮金黃酥脆的春捲不同，潤餅不須油炸即可食用。潤餅皮的作法是將高筋麵糰在熱鍋上均勻塗薄薄一層，外皮呈白色，柔軟有韌度。
high-gluten flour (n. phr.) 高筋麵粉
Photo: Wiki Commons l 照片： Wiki Commons
flexible (adj.) 柔韌的，有彈性的
Around the Qingming Festival, it is a tradition that families prepare food offerings to their ancestors, such as fruit and meat. As part of this tradition, families in Taiwan also eat runbing together. Each member sits around the dining table and wraps runbing with a variety of cooked fillings. Although the fillings may vary between households, one essential flavor that cannot be left out is the mixture of crushed peanuts and sugar. When combined with the fillings, it gives runbing a delicious savory-sweet taste.
臨近清明時節，台灣的家庭會向祖先供奉水果和肉類等供品，除此之外，一家人也會吃潤餅。大家圍坐餐桌旁一起包潤餅，桌上擺滿各式各樣的餡料。家家戶戶的餡料可能不太一樣，但其中最不可少的滋味是花生粉，讓潤餅嘗起來鹹鹹甜甜的。
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Typically, cooked fillings include shredded carrots, cabbage, dried tofu, mung bean sprouts and sliced egg crepes. Regional fillings such as oil noodles and Taiwanese sausage are found in Tainan, while velvet shrimp, lima beans and sugar are also popular ingredients. Other than the crushed peanuts, the filling is often seasoned with onions, garlic, scallions and coriander.
潤餅常用的熟餡料有紅蘿蔔絲、高麗菜、豆干、豆芽菜和蛋絲。油麵和台式香腸是台南風味的潤餅餡，火燒蝦、皇帝豆和糖粉也是當地特有的滋味。除了用花生糖粉調味，也會放點洋蔥、蒜頭、蔥和芫荽（香菜）。
lima bean (n.) 皇帝豆
The tradition of eating runbing in Taiwan is believed to have its roots in ancient China. One story goes back to the Spring and Autumn Period (c. 770 - 481 BCE), when it was a ritual that people offered the god of spring five fresh spices - scallions, garlic, Chinese chives, coriander and brassica. To wish for their good health, people will eat the five spices after worshiping the god. However, since these spices can be pungent if eaten on their own, the custom of wrapping them in a pancake was adopted. Another origin story is related to the Cold Food Festival, which honors Jie Zitui, a loyalist who saved Chong Er, the exiled Duke Wen of Jin, by offering him a piece of his own thigh to eat.
台灣人吃潤餅的由來已久，最早可追溯至古代中國。春秋戰國時期（約公元前770—481年），在春天有用五辛祭祀春神禮俗。五辛為蔥、大蒜、韭菜、芫荽、蕓薹等五種生辛菜蔬，為祈求身體健康，人們會吃五辛，但生辛料不好入口，於是包在餅皮中一起吃下肚。另一個潤餅的由來與寒食節有關，是為紀念介子推。他對公子重耳忠心耿耿，重耳遭流放時，他曾割下自己的大腿肉，讓重耳免於餓死的命運。
ritual (n.) 儀式，典禮
Chinese chives (n. phr.) 韭菜
pungent (adj.) （味道或氣味）辛辣的，刺鼻的
exile (v.) 流放，放逐
Duke Wen of Jin 晉文公
After many years on the throne, the Duke recalled this and wished to reward Jie Zitui for his past contributions. However, Jie had already retreated to the mountains with his mother. As he did not desire wealth or fame, he refused to come out to receive his reward. The Duke ordered soldiers to set fire to the mountain, hoping to smoke him out, but tragically, Jie and his mother perished in the blaze. Filled with remorse, the Duke established the tradition of eating cold food in memory of Jie at the Cold Food Festival, which is held in April near the Qingming Festival. During the Cold Food Festival, people refrain from making fires and eating hot food. Instead, they eat runbing, a food made with precooked ingredients that conforms to the custom of eating only cold food on that day.
重耳登基為晉文公多年後，想起介子推的救命之恩，想要賞賜介子推，但介子推早已和母親入山隱居，他淡泊名利，不願出面受封。重耳於是放火燒山，想把介子推逼出來，但不幸的是，介子推和他母親於大火中雙雙身亡。重耳悔恨不已，於是規定每年寒食節只准吃冷食，以紀念介子推。寒食節在四月，臨近清明節，此時人們不得生火、不吃熱食，所以會吃將食材都先煮熟的潤餅，以符合吃冷食的習俗。
remorse (v.) 懊悔；悔恨
refrain (v.) 節制，忍住
conform (v.) 遵守，順應
文章由書林出版公司提供：
www.bookman.com.tw
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