Taiwanese Gua Bao (Pork Belly Steamed Buns / Taiwanese Burger)
The iconic Taiwanese street burger: cloud-soft, pillowy steamed lotus leaf bao buns filled with thick, glossy red-braised pork belly slices, generously piled with sweet powdered roasted peanuts, tangy stir-fried pickled mustard greens, and fresh coriander.
Ingredients
Red-Braised Pork Belly Slices
- 800g (1.75 lbs) pork belly with skin, cut into 1/2-inch thick slices (approx. 3x2 inches)
- 4 cloves garlic and 4 slices fresh ginger
- 2 scallions, cut into sections
- 4 tbsp light soy sauce and 2 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 3 tbsp Shaoxing rice wine
- 35g rock sugar
- 2 whole star anise and 1 small cinnamon stick
- 2 cups water
Sweet Peanut Powder & Suan Cai
- 3/4 cup roasted unsalted peanuts, finely crushed/ground
- 2 tbsp confectioners' powdered sugar
- 1 cup pickled mustard greens (suan cai), finely chopped and stir-fried with 1 tsp sugar and 1 sliced chili
Bao Buns & Assembly
- 8 fresh or frozen folded lotus leaf steamed bao buns
- 1 bunch fresh cilantro (coriander) sprigs
Instructions
Sear & Braise the Pork Slices
In a heavy pot, sear pork belly slices over medium heat until lightly golden on both sides. Add garlic, ginger, scallions, star anise, and cinnamon. Pour in Shaoxing wine, light and dark soy sauces, rock sugar, and water. Bring to a boil, cover tightly, and simmer on low for 65-75 minutes until unctuous and fork-tender.
Prepare Sweet Peanut Powder
In a food processor or spice grinder, pulse roasted peanuts with powdered sugar until finely ground with a slight texture (do not over-process into peanut butter). Set aside.
Sauté the Pickled Mustard Greens
Heat 1 tsp oil in a pan, add chopped pickled mustard greens, sliced chili, and sugar. Sauté for 3 minutes until fragrant and dry. Remove from heat.
Steam the Lotus Leaf Buns
Place the folded bao buns onto parchment paper squares in a bamboo steamer over boiling water. Steam for 8-10 minutes until puffed, hot, and cloud-soft.
Assemble the Gua Bao
Gently open a warm steamed bun. Lay a thick, tender slice of braised pork belly inside. Spoon over a generous layer of sautéed pickled greens, heap with sweet peanut powder, and finish with fresh cilantro sprigs. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts
* Based on a 2,000 calorie diet.