La asian gastronomy It has been, for years, gaining a place - increasingly notable - in our country. In fact, restaurants specializing in this cuisine are booming. And, how could it not be like that? Provides an amount of different flavors and ideas that hardly goes unnoticed. Japanese sushi or ramen, Thai pad thai or Chinese dim sum are some examples of oriental recipes most popular in Spain. And now also the go bath. Perhaps its name does not sound as familiar to you as others, but the truth is that it is a dish that undoubtedly stands out. Let's get to know this flagship product of Taiwanese street food!
Gua Bao, the healthy bun
Hailing from Taiwán, as we have already mentioned, this is colloquially known sandwich like "hoo-kā-ti" "虎 咬 豬”, Which translates to "Tiger bites pig". The reason for this name lies in the shape of the plate, since the bread seems to be the jaws of a tiger that is eating a pig - which is precisely what it is filled with. Regarding the ingredients, the roll It is made apart from wheat flour, oil, yeast, water and milk. A combination that turns this muffin into a product with a very juicy and tender texture that should be consumed hot so that it does not lose those qualities. The most interesting thing is that it cooks steamed, not needing an oven to make it and making it a product calorie-free and healthy.
As to filling, traditionally it has been used pig, but the truth is that this recipe allows all kinds of innovation and creativity when filling it. Of bacon, of chicken, prawns, Iberian secret, tuna, Vegetarians… the possibilities are endless; It is a matter of letting your imagination fly because everything has a place in sandwiches.
The curious legend of the gua bao
According to legend - perhaps a bit macabre - the origin of these water baos It dates back to the time of the Three Kingdoms -corresponding to the years 220-280-. It is said that Zhuge Liang, warlord, leader of the northern army of China, defeated the barbarians of the south. On his way home, he came across a very dangerous river, and in order to pass it safely, tradition dictated that several men should be sacrificed and their heads thrown into the water, thus appeasing the spirits. Not satisfied with the condition, instead he slaughtered part of the cattle he was traveling with and made some buns that he threw into the river. Hence, the bread dough of the guide bathrooms It is known as "mantou", which means "heads of barbarians."
Its preparation without oven
In addition to being able to go to taste it in different restaurants -as we will see later-, the truth is that doing this Taiwanese recipe it is possible at home. Since the filling is to everyone's taste, what really requires a specific preparation is the bread. Here is a video that explains step by step how to do the steamed muffin, instead of using the traditional oven for all bakery products.
Where to taste it?
One of the main culprits for the success of the go bath all over the world is the cook David Chang, not in vain classified as one of the most influential people of the XNUMXst century by Esquire. He opened his restaurant in 2004 Momofuku in New York And since then his cuisine has spread throughout the world: Canada, Australia and other parts of the United States already enjoy his art in Asian cuisine. In Spain, however, it can also be tasted in different specialized establishments.
To give two outstanding examples, we will talk about the one we have in Barcelona, Koku Kitchen Buns, and of Madrid, Yakitoro -from Alberto Chicote-. The first is one of the reference restaurants if you want to eat Ramen in Barcelona. In his letter you can find two types of this plate. On the one hand that of battered chicken, pickled cucumber and carrot, bean sprouts, lettuce and homemade peanut sauce. And, on the other hand, that of pork belly, pickled cucumber and carrot, bean sprouts, lettuce and homemade sauce. The one with the capital It is a signature restaurant where you can try one of squid grilled with tomato, aioli and onion, well the crispy pork ear with fresh sisho.
A recipe tasty, versatile, different and easy to make. No wonder this Taiwanese gua bao be so successful both in your place of origin, where it is very common in markets and food stalls, as in our country and many others. What are you waiting for to try a steamed sandwich, healthier than the typical Spanish ones?
