What dim sum pastry is a fried oval-shaped dough resembling an ox tongue?

The fried oval-shaped dim sum dough resembling an ox tongue is ox-tongue pastry.

Ox-tongue pastry is a Chinese fried pastry associated especially with southern China, including Guangdong and Fujian. Its flattened, elliptical shape gives it the name: the form is said to resemble an ox’s tongue, and it is also known by the alternate name horse-ear pastry.

The dough is similar in concept to youtiao, the familiar Chinese fried dough stick, but sugar is typically added to the flour. Frying creates a crunchy outer crust while the inside remains softer and chewy. The pastry is lightly sweet and is often eaten for breakfast with soy milk or alongside congee.

It is easy to confuse this item with other dim sum pastries. An egg tart is baked around a custard filling, char siu sou is a flaky pastry filled with barbecued pork, and a pineapple bun is a baked bun with a crisp sugary topping. None has the ox-tongue pastry’s characteristic fried, elongated oval shape.