The Gua Bao, the undisputed star of Taiwanese night markets: a fluffy steamed bun enclosing meltingly tender braised pork, sautéed pickled mustard greens, sweet peanuts, and fresh cilantro.
Ingredients
- 600 g Pork belly
- 8 pieces Folded steamed buns (Gua Bao)
- 150 g Pickled Chinese mustard greens (Suan Cai)
- 80 g Unsalted roasted peanuts
- 30 g Granulated sugar
- 1 bunch Fresh cilantro
- 60 ml Soy sauce
- 30 ml Dark soy sauce
- 60 ml Rice wine (Mijiu)
- 50 g Brown sugar
- 3 pieces Star anise
- 1 pinch Five-spice powder
- 3 cloves Garlic
- 20 g Fresh ginger
- 3 tbsp Neutral oil
- 500 ml Water
- to taste White pepper
Method
- Cut the pork belly into thick slices. Plunge them into a pot of boiling water for a few minutes to blanch them and remove impurities, until the water becomes cloudy and a foam forms on the surface. Drain and set aside.
- Heat a drizzle of oil in a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over high heat. Sear the pork slices until they are golden brown on both sides. Add the crushed garlic and sliced ginger, sauté until a toasted aroma emerges.
- Pour in the soy sauce, dark soy sauce, and rice wine. Add the brown sugar, star anise, five-spice powder, and white pepper. Cover with water just to the level of the meat. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat.
- Cover and let simmer over low heat until the meat is meltingly tender and the sauce is syrupy. The meat should be easily pierced without resistance and the sauce should coat the back of a spoon.
- Rinse the pickled Chinese mustard greens in cold water, squeeze well. In a skillet with a drizzle of oil, sauté with a little garlic and brown sugar until fragrant and lightly caramelized. Set aside.
- Coarsely crush the roasted peanuts and mix them with the granulated sugar to obtain a granular mixture. Set aside.
- Steam the folded steamed buns until they are puffed and soft to the touch.
- Open each bun. Place a slice of braised pork, add the sautéed mustard greens, sprinkle generously with the peanut-sugar mixture, and scatter with fresh cilantro leaves. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Per serving
- Energy
- 697.4 kcal
- Protein
- 36.88 g
- Carbohydrate
- 38.89 g
- Fat
- 43.64 g
- Fibre
- 3.01 g
- Calcium
- 43.82 mg
- Iron
- 1.97 mg
- Magnesium
- 56.7 mg
