Dapanji

300px|thumb|right|A plate of dapanji, as served in Ürümqi Dapanji (; ; ) is a spicy chicken stew that was invented by a Han Chinese chef in Shawan, Xinjiang in the 1980s. Although originally considered Chinese rather than Uyghur, the chef made the dish halal to accommodate local religious customs, and it quickly became popular among the local Uyghur population.

==History== Dapanji first appeared in Shawan in the late 1980s. The dish gained popularity in Xinjiang in the mid-to-late 1990s. It is said to have been invented in Shawan, Northern Xinjiang, by a Han Chinese migrant chef from Sichuan named Li, who mixed hot chili peppers with chicken and potatoes in an attempt to reproduce a Sichuan taste. Although Shawan is generally believed to the place of origin of the dish, there are also other claims of origin, including an invention by a Hunan native at Chaiwopu Lake near Ürümqi. Some believed the dish was originally served in a number of smaller plates, but later a large single plate was used instead which gave it its name. The dish was served by restaurateurs along the Xinjiang highways as a quick fix for truck drivers who often arrived at an odd time of the day. Its rich flavor and heartiness quickly made the dish a favorite of the region and the dish then spread to the rest of China.