Zha Pai Gu (台式炸排骨), or Taiwanese Fried Pork Loin (also known as pork chop), is one of the most iconic mains you’ll find in any Taiwanese bento shop. The dish is said to trace back to Japanese-style tonkatsu from the Japanese colonial era, which was gradually localised and combined with Taiwanese-style marinating and coating techniques…
Pork
Taiwanese Steamed Pork with Pickled Cucumber (Guazi Rou) 台式瓜子肉
Taiwanese Steamed Pork with Pickled Cucumber, known as Guazi Rou (台式瓜子肉), is another comforting and easy-to-make dish in Taiwanese home cooking. It’s the kind of savoury, rice-soaking dish that appears on family dinner tables again and again, and one bowl of rice is rarely enough. The dish pairs minced pork with Taiwanese pickled cucumber (脆瓜…
Crispy Water-Fried Pork Belly 水煎五花肉
Water-Fried Pork Belly is a cooking method that went viral across Taiwanese YouTube a few years ago, and it’s easy to see why. The method starts by gently poaching pork belly in a little water, which cooks the meat through and draws out any impurities. Once the water evaporates, the pork carries on cooking in…
Easy Smashed Dumplings (No Pleating Needed!)
If you’ve always wanted to make dumplings at home but felt intimidated by the folding process, this recipe is for you. These Easy Smashed Dumplings, also known as the viral Smashed Dumpling Tacos, skip the complicated pleating altogether while delivering all the delicious flavours and textures of traditional dumplings. Instead of wrapping the filling inside,…
Taiwanese Braised Pork Rice (Lu Rou Fan) 台式滷肉飯
Taiwanese Braised Pork Rice, also known as Lu Rou Fan, is one of Taiwan’s most iconic comfort foods. This humble yet incredibly flavourful dish can be found everywhere—from street food stalls to traditional eateries across the island. With its rich, savoury sauce, melt-in-your-mouth pork, and fluffy steamed rice, Lu Rou Fan is the perfect example…
Pan-fried Crispy Dumpling Noodles 鍋貼風脆皮餃子麵
This idea came to me after making Hand-Pulled Stretchy Dumpling Noodles previously. Last time I boiled them, but this time I decided to pan-fry them to create crispy bites, and the result is incredibly satisfying. If you love dumplings and noodles, this recipe is about to become your new favourite kitchen hack. Dumpling noodles are…
Lazy No-Fold Pan-Fried Dumplings
I recently tried another viral dumpling hack that has been floating around social media lately, and I have to say…it’s actually pretty clever! Instead of folding and pleating each dumpling one by one, you simply shape the filling into balls, place them straight into the pan, lay the dumpling wrappers on top, and cook everything…
TikTok Viral Creamy Spicy Noodles / Creamy Mapo-Style Tofu Noodles
If you’ve been scrolling through social media lately, you’ve probably seen the viral creamy spicy noodles made with blended tofu. This simple trick uses soft tofu instead of cheese or cream to create a silky, rich sauce — making it a lighter and healthier option while still feeling indulgent. I finally decided to try it…
Classic Braised Pork Ribs for Lunar New Year (Gao Sheng Pai Gu) 高昇排骨
Gao Sheng Pai Gu (高昇排骨) is a classic sweet and sour braised pork rib dish made with a symbolic 1-2-3-4-5 sauce ratio. And if you’re wondering what the 1-2-3-4-5 ratio means — it refers to a rising sauce proportion. The increasing numbers represent step-by-step success and prosperity, which is why this dish is especially popular…
Thai Basil Pork Stir-Fry in Crispy Air-Fried Buns (Pad Kra Pao Bun)
If you loved my viral Air-Fried Prawn Bao from 2024, you’re going to be obsessed with this one, too. I’ve been experimenting with new ways to use store-bought pocket-shaped steamed buns lately, they’re like fluffy Asian-style burgers that can be filled with endless possibilities. And this time, I’m giving them a Thai twist with a…