Gua bao
Gua bao, from above
Non vegTaiwan

Gua bao

Fluffy folded buns stuffed with braised pork belly, peanut sugar and coriander. Taiwan's hamburger.

120 minTime
19 gProtein each
mildSpice
The tiger bites the pig2 chapters · 1 min read

Make it your way

Grandma's waySteamed folded buns with braised belly, pickled greens, peanut sugar and coriander.
The original
814kcalsame
19 gproteinsame
4 gfibresame
120minutessame

Gua bao, Taiwan style.

Per serving, worked out from the ingredient table.

Ingredients

4 servings
Maida (all-purpose flour, plain flour)2 cups
Instant dry yeast1 tsp
Baking powder1 tsp
Sugar3½ tbsp, divided
Milk½ cup, warm
Cooking oil (vegetable oil)1 tbsp
Pork belly320 g, in one piece
Soy sauce2 tbsp
Dark soy sauce2 tsp
Star anise1 pod
Chinese five spice powdera pinch
Ginger4 slices
Water1¼ cups
Peanuts¼ cup, roasted
Mustard greenspickled mustard greens, chopped
Coriander leaves (cilantro)a big handful

Method

5 steps
  1. 1Knead flour, yeast, 2 tbsp sugar, milk and oil into a smooth dough. Rest 1 hour until doubled, then knead in the baking powder.
  2. 2Meanwhile braise the pork with soys, 1 tbsp sugar, spices, ginger and water, covered, for 75 minutes. Slice thick.
  3. 3Roll the dough into 8 ovals, brush half with oil and fold over a piece of paper. Rest 20 minutes.
  4. 4Steam over high heat for 10 minutes and rest 2 minutes before opening.
  5. 5Grind the peanuts with the remaining sugar. Fill each bun with pork, mustard greens, peanut sugar and coriander.
Serve it like this

Stand the filled buns upright on a board so the fillings show, extra peanut sugar and coriander in small bowls for topping up.

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Make it a meal

What goes with Gua bao: a bread or rice, a side, something to drink and something sweet.

On the side Smashed cucumber salad15 min
On the side Bagara baingan50 min
A little snack Taiwanese popcorn chicken40 min
To drink Bubble tea40 min
To drink Masala chai10 min
Something sweet Sakkarai pongal45 min
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