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10 recipes · Taiwan

Taiwanese kitchen

10 Taiwanese recipes you can cook at home, from Gua Bao (Taiwanese Pork Belly Buns), Ji Rou Fan (Taiwanese Chicken Rice) and Lu Rou Fan (Taiwanese Braised Pork Rice) to Di Gua Qiu (Taiwanese Sweet Potato Balls).

10 recipes

About Taiwanese food

The Taiwanese kitchen

Soy-braised meat, fragrant shallot oil, fresh greens and rice anchor many Taiwanese meals. Ginger, garlic and basil give quick-cooked food a strong aroma, while long braises turn pork and beef tender. A bowl may look simple, but the balance between plain rice, concentrated sauce and a crisp or pickled topping is carefully judged.

Breakfast shops and night markets add another set of textures: rolled egg crepes, fluffy filled buns and craggy fried chicken. At home, keep soy sauce, sesame oil and unsweetened rice wine close by. Use a hot pan for cabbage, a quiet simmer for broth, and enough restraint with the sauce to let each bowl keep its contrasts.

Questions, answered

What dishes is Taiwan known for?

Braised pork rice, beef noodle soup, three cup chicken and gua bao are familiar starting points. Egg crepes and popcorn chicken show the breakfast-shop and night-market sides of the food.

Is Taiwanese food usually spicy?

Many everyday dishes are mild and emphasize savory, sweet and aromatic flavors. Chili sauces and spicy beef broths are also common, but heat is not a requirement for every meal.

What can replace Taiwanese rice wine?

Unsweetened dry sake is a useful substitute, and dry sherry works in many soy-based braises. Rice vinegar is not interchangeable: it adds acidity rather than the aroma of wine.

What is the difference between lu rou fan and gua bao?

Lu rou fan serves finely chopped braised pork and sauce over rice. Gua bao folds a larger piece of pork belly into a steamed bun with contrasting toppings such as pickled greens and peanuts.

What Taiwanese dishes can I make at home?

Start with Chao Gao Li Cai (Taiwanese Stir-Fried Cabbage), Dan Bing (Taiwanese Egg Crepes), Di Gua Qiu (Taiwanese Sweet Potato Balls), Gua Bao (Taiwanese Pork Belly Buns) and Ji Rou Fan (Taiwanese Chicken Rice). Every recipe here is written for a home kitchen, with substitutes for anything hard to find.

What's the quickest Taiwanese recipe?

Chao Gao Li Cai (Taiwanese Stir-Fried Cabbage), ready in 18 min.