Description
A traditional Chinese sandwich loved in Taiwanese night markets. A fluffy white steamed bun folded in half wraps meltingly soft, star-anise-scented braised pork belly, pickled greens, cilantro, and sweet peanut powder.
Restaurants serving Gua Bao (Pork Belly Bun)
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We are researching restaurants that serve this dish.
On this site you can check dictionary details and, later, places to buy or eat related items.
The Recipe section below is a general reference, not a recipe from the listed shops.
Recipe
Ingredients
- Pork belly
- Gua Bao buns
- Suan Cai(pickled greens)
- Peanuts
- Sugar
- Star anise
- Coriander
- Soy sauce
Instructions
- [Authentic Recipe]
- Braise skin-on pork belly with soy, rock sugar, wine, star anise, and Five-Spice for hours until meltingly soft.
- Mince Suan Cai (pickled greens) and fry with garlic and sugar to dry.
- Dry-roast and crush peanuts, mixing with sugar to make peanut powder.
- Knead flour, yeast, and milk; let rise, roll into ovals, fold in half, and steam into fluffy white buns.
- Open the hot bun, insert the fried greens and thick pork belly.
- Shower heavily with peanut powder, add fresh cilantro, and serve.
Learn more Spice, substitutes, tips
Key spices
Star anise-scented pork fat and intense sweetness of peanut powder、ピーナッツパウダーの強烈な甘み
Substitutes at Japanese supermarkets
Stuff JP braised pork and fried Takana into commercial Chinese folded buns
Pairing
Boba Milk Tea / Si Shen Tang(Medicinal offal soup)
Trivia
Because the bun 'bites' the meat, it's nicknamed 'Tiger Bites Pig' in Taiwan. Since it looks like a wallet stuffed with money, it is eaten as an auspicious food at year-end parties.
Eating tips & etiquette
Hold it in its paper wrapping and take a massive bite like a burger. The savory pork fat mixing with the sweet peanut powder creates the ultimate 'sweet-and-salty' Taiwanese flavor.
Allergen
Pork, Wheat, Soybeans, Peanuts