Bao buns with crispy eggplant: a tastier or easier recipe you are not going to come across today. Delicious for lunch, dinner or as a drink or tapas snack. Bao buns are wildly popular, but what exactly are bao buns and where does it come from?
Bao buns with crispy eggplant
20 minutes
What are bao buns?
Bao buns, also known as steamed buns or steamed buns, have gained worldwide popularity in recent years for their unique taste and versatility. These soft, fluffy buns have their origins in Chinese cuisine, but over time have spread to different parts of Asia and beyond.
The history of bao buns goes back centuries, where they were considered a street food in China. They were often filled with pork, beef or vegetables and were a favorite among travelers and workers because of their portability and taste. With the migration of people, the concept of bao buns spread to countries such as Taiwan, Japan and Korea, where local variations emerged.
What makes bao buns so beloved is not only their delicious taste, but also their versatility. They can be filled with a wide range of ingredients, from traditional to creative, making them suitable for vegetarians, vegans and meat or fish lovers. In fact, you simply fill them with anything you like.
Today, bao buns are served worldwide in restaurants, food trucks and home kitchens, where they are a gastronomic highlight for lovers of Asian food. Their unique combination of soft texture, savory filling and subtle sweetness makes bao buns a culinary experience you keep coming back for. Wherever they are on the menu, I really do order them everywhere. But you can also make them yourself very easily!
Bao buns without steamer basket
How to prepare bao buns without steaming them in a steamer basket? Quite simply! You can simply heat your (thawed) bao buns in the oven. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees and moisten the buns a bit with some water. Then wrap them one by one in aluminum foil. Put them in the oven for 10 minutes and ready! Your bao buns are ready to eat.
More recipes with eggplant
Looking for more vegetarian recipes with eggplant? Say no more! Eggplant is my favorite vegetable, so my website is full of them. How about these tacos with pulled eggplant or this noodle bowl with sticky eggplant and gyoza. For a whole list of all my eggplant recipes, please visit here take a look.
What you need:
2
4 bao buns
1/2 large eggplant
60 gr flour
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1 egg
60 gr breadcrumbs
35 gr red cabbage
chopped
35 gr carrot julienne
35 gr white cabbage
chopped
3 tbsp mayonnaise
1 tsp sriracha
fresh cilantro to taste
250 ml of sunflower oil
for baking
What to do:
1
Prepare the bao buns according to the instructions on the package. You can also prepare them in the oven, read the introduction above for instructions.
2
Cut the eggplant into cubes or triangles. Mix the flour together with the chili powder and garlic powder in a bowl. Beat the egg in a second bowl and put the breadcrumbs in a third bowl. Now pass the eggplant cubes first through the flour, then through the egg and then through the breadcrumbs. Place on a plate and keep aside until all the eggplant is covered.
3
Heat a generous amount of olive oil in a skillet so that the entire bottom is covered. Turn the heat to low and fry the eggplant all around until golden brown. This can go quickly, so stay on top of it.
4
Put the red cabbage together with the carrot, white cabbage and 1/3 of the mayo in a bowl. Season with some salt and pepper and mix.
5
Mix the remaining mayo with the sriracha and you can dilute this sauce with some water if you like.
6
Fill the bao buns with the cabbage salad and crispy eggplant. Top with the sauce, fresh cilantro and some salt and pepper.
7
Enjoy and don't forget to share your dish in your Instastory with the tag @easyculi!
