砂锅 (earthenware casserole) is both the vessel and a style of cooking — slow, gentle, and served bubbling at the table.
砂锅 + ingredient yields a huge family of homestyle dishes:
砂锅豆腐,
砂锅粥,
砂锅米线,
砂锅鱼头. The pot retains heat so well the contents keep simmering for several minutes after it arrives.
