Vegan Gua Bao - 刈包

Have you tried Gua Bao before? It's a soft fluffy bun that has a unique shape with an open 'mouth' that's filled with a delicious filling. This Vegan Gua Bao recipe is simple and used a homemade bao recipe. They are then paired with flavorful filling of braised tofu, pickled mustard, and sweet crushed peanuts. Give it a try today!

📝 Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 245 g all-purpose flour
• pinch of salt
• 1 teaspoon oil
• 16 oz [397g] firm tofu (sliced to 6 slabs)
• 3 slices ginger
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 bunch of knotted green onion
• 1 dried chili
• 3 star anise
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon vegan 'oyster' sauce
• 1/2 tablespoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon thick caramel sauce (for color)
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
• 2 cups of water
• 1/2 teaspoon water + 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
• oil for cooking
• 8 oz sour mustard (soaked in water for 1 hour)
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 slices ginger
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 dried chili (softened)
• a handful of cilantro
• crushed toasted peanuts with sugar

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1--- How to make the Gua Bao ---
2. 2Mix the sugar and warm water in a cup, then add the yeast. Let the mixture sit for about 5 minutes, until the yeast turns foamy.
3. 3Place the flour and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer and use a rubber spatula to stir to combine. Add the yeast mixture and stir until a shaggy dough forms. Stir in the oil.
4. 4Now fit the mixer with a dough hook and knead the dough at a low speed for 8 to 10 minutes, until a smooth dough forms. (If there are still dry spots of flour after 2 to 3 minutes of mixing, add some water, 1 tablespoon at a time.)
5. 5Transfer the dough to a clean work surface and divide it into 6 pieces (about 65 grams each). Work with one dough at a time and cover the rest with a cloth to prevent them from drying out.
6. 6Knead each piece by hand to remove air bubbles. Now roll it into a ball, cover, and let rest for 5 minutes.
7. 7Meanwhile, cut out 6 (4x3-inch) parchment rectangles and set aside.
8. 8Lightly flour a work surface. Uncover a dough ball and flatten it with your palm. Roll into an oval about 3-inches in diameter (about ¼-inch thick).
9. 9Brush the top with oil, then fold in half to form a semi-circle. Place on a parchment rectangle and transfer this to a steamer filled with water.
10. 10Repeat the above step with the remaining dough balls.
11. 11Proof the baos for 45 minutes or until they have fluffed up. To check, gently poke the dough, if it bounces back, then it's ready.
12. 12--- How to make the Filling ---
13. 13While the baos are proofing, work on the filling.
14. 14Prepare the sour mustard: Wash and rinse the soaked sour mustard with clean water 2 to 3 times. Thinly slice.
15. 15Heat a large pan and add the oil. Sauté the ginger, garlic, and chile until fragrant, then add the sour mustard.
16. 16Stir-fry for 1 minute, then add the sugar and continue to cook for another minute. Dish out and set aside.
17. 17Prepare the braised tofu: Heat a large nonstick pan and add a drizzle of oil. Pan-fry the tofu until golden brown. Transfer to a plate.
18. 18Using the same pan, add a little more oil and sauté the ginger until aromatic. Add the garlic, scallion, and chile, and keep cooking until fragrant.
19. 19Pour in the water and add the star anise, cinnamon stick, and season with the sauces, sugar, sesame oil, white pepper, and salt (if needed).
20. 20Add the tofu back to the pan and bring the mixture to a boil.
21. 21Now drop the heat to medium and simmer until the sauce is reduced to one-third of its volume.
22. 22Remove the ginger, garlic, scallion, chile, star anise, and cinnamon. Combine the cornstarch with ½ teaspoon water, then stir this slurry into the sauce to thicken the sauce. Turn off the heat.
23. 23Cook the proofed bao: Turn on the heat to high and bring the water to a boil. Lower the heat to medium-high and steam the bao for 8 minutes. Turn off the heat and let them stay in the steamer for another 8 minutes before removing them.
24. 24--- How to Serve ---
25. 25Remove the bao from the steamer, then stuff with braised tofu, sour mustard, crushed peanuts, and cilantro.