| Pork Belly Bao Buns |
Gua Bao is a delicious Asian street food featuring soft, fluffy b... |
Asian, Street Food, Pork, Buns, Dinner, Main Course |
{"title":"Pork Belly Bao Buns","description":"Gua Bao is a delicious Asian street food featuring soft, fluffy bao buns stuffed with slow-cooked, sticky pork belly topped with fresh cilantro, sliced red chillies, spring onions, sesame seeds, and chopped cashews. This recipe guides you through creating this dish from scratch, providing a step-by-step approach to making both the buns and the tender pork filling.","short_description":"Fluffy bao buns with sticky pork belly topping.","full_ingredient_list":["450 g all-purpose flour","2 tbsp caster sugar","1\/2 tsp salt","2 tsp instant dried yeast","3 tbsp whole milk","210 ml warm water","3 tbsp unsalted butter","1 tbsp olive oil","1 kg pork belly slices","1 litre chicken or vegetable stock","1 tbsp minced ginger","3 cloves garlic","1 tbsp rice wine","1 tbsp caster sugar","2 tbsp vegetable oil","pinch of salt and pepper","1 red chilli, finely chopped","2 tbsp honey","2 tbsp brown sugar","3 tbsp dark soy sauce","1 tsp lemongrass paste","1 bunch cilantro, roughly torn","2 red chillies, sliced","4 spring onions, sliced","1 tbsp sesame seeds","2 tbsp toasted cashew nuts, chopped"],"components":[{"name":"Steamed Buns","ingredients":[{"name":"all-purpose flour","quantity":"450 g","preparation_notes":"","substitutions":[]},{"name":"caster sugar","quantity":"2 tbsp","preparation_notes":"","substitutions":[]},{"name":"salt","quantity":"1\/2 tsp","preparation_notes":"","substitutions":[]},{"name":"instant dried yeast","quantity":"2 tsp","preparation_notes":"equivalent to one packet or 7g","substitutions":[]},{"name":"whole milk","quantity":"3 tbsp","preparation_notes":"","substitutions":[]},{"name":"warm water","quantity":"210 ml","preparation_notes":"3\/4 cups + 2 tbsp","substitutions":[]},{"name":"unsalted butter","quantity":"3 tbsp","preparation_notes":"very soft","substitutions":[]},{"name":"olive oil","quantity":"1 tbsp","preparation_notes":"","substitutions":[]}],"tools_and_equipment":["mixing bowl","jug","spoon","steam pan","rolling pin"],"instructions":[{"step_number":1,"description":"Mix all-purpose flour, caster sugar, salt, and instant dried yeast in a bowl.","tips":""},{"step_number":2,"description":"Combine whole milk, warm water, and unsalted butter in a jug until the butter melts.","tips":""},{"step_number":3,"description":"Stir the liquid into the dry ingredients, then knead for 10 minutes. Let rise for about 90 minutes until doubled in size.","tips":""},{"step_number":4,"description":"Knead again, divide into 10 balls, roll into ovals, brush with olive oil, and fold.","tips":""},{"step_number":5,"description":"Let rise again for 60 minutes until puffed up, then steam for 15 minutes.","tips":""}]},{"name":"Sticky Pork Belly","ingredients":[{"name":"pork belly slices","quantity":"1 kg","preparation_notes":"rindless, chopped in half","substitutions":[]},{"name":"chicken or vegetable stock","quantity":"1 litre","preparation_notes":"hot","substitutions":[]},{"name":"minced ginger","quantity":"1 tbsp","preparation_notes":"","substitutions":[]},{"name":"garlic","quantity":"3 cloves","preparation_notes":"peeled and chopped in half","substitutions":[]},{"name":"rice wine","quantity":"1 tbsp","preparation_notes":"","substitutions":[]},{"name":"caster sugar","quantity":"1 tbsp","preparation_notes":"","substitutions":[]},{"name":"vegetable oil","quantity":"2 tbsp","preparation_notes":"","substitutions":[]},{"name":"salt and pepper","quantity":"pinch","preparation_notes":"","substitutions":[]},{"name":"minced ginger","quantity":"1 tbsp","preparation_notes":"","substitutions":[]},{"name":"red chilli","quantity":"1","preparation_notes":"finely chopped","substitutions":[]},{"name":"honey","quantity":"2 tbsp","preparation_notes":"","substitutions":[]},{"name":"brown sugar","quantity":"2 tbsp","preparation_notes":"","substitutions":[]},{"name":"dark soy sauce","quantity":"3 tbsp","preparation_notes":"","substitutions":[]},{"name":"lemongrass paste","quantity":"1 tsp","preparation_notes":"","substitutions":[]}],"tools_and_equipment":["pan","frying pan","spoon","knife","chopping board","bowls"],"instructions":[{"step_number":1,"description":"Add pork belly, stock, ginger, garlic, rice wine, and sugar to a pan. Simmer for 2 hours until tender.","tips":""},{"step_number":2,"description":"Drain the pork and slice it. Fry in oil with salt and pepper until golden brown.","tips":""},{"step_number":3,"description":"Add minced ginger, chili, honey, brown sugar, soy sauce, and lemongrass paste. Bubble until dark and sticky.","tips":""}]}],"prep_time":"30 minutes","cook_time":"3 hours","total_time":"3 hours 30 minutes","servings":"10 bao buns","tags":["Asian","Street Food","Pork","Buns","Dinner","Main Course"],"notes":"You can prepare the pork belly and the buns ahead of time and reheat before serving. The buns can also be frozen and reheated from frozen.","background":"Gua Bao is a traditional dish from Taiwan, often sold by street vendors and popular for its savory and sweet flavor combination.","nutrition":{"calories":"667","protein":"34g","fat":"37g","carbohydrates":"49g","fiber":"2g","sugar":"11g"},"serving_suggestions":"Serve hot with extra cilantro and a sprinkle of sesame seeds for added texture.","storage":"Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in a steamer for best results.","dietary_info":["Contains gluten","Contains nuts"],"cooking_tips":["Be sure to knead the dough well for softer buns.","Adjust the glaze ingredients to taste."],"variations":["Use chicken or tofu as a vegetarian option for the filling."],"ingredient_spotlight":"Pork belly is the star of the dish, offering a rich and tender texture that pairs perfectly with the soft bao buns.","flavor_profile":{"sweet":5,"savory":8,"sour":2,"bitter":1,"umami":9},"geographic_region":"Taiwan","seasonality":"Year-round","sustainability_score":{"score":75,"details":"Pork can be locally sourced to reduce carbon footprint."},"occasion":"Casual dinner, Street food gatherings","skill_level":"Intermediate","cost_estimate":20,"recommended_pairings":["Light Asian salads","Jasmine tea"]} |
