Taiwan Recipes
Night-market island with a noodle-soup obsession. Not sure what to eat in Taiwan? Start with Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup, Gua Bao (Pork Belly Buns), Pineapple Cake and Dan Bing. Here are 9 authentic Taiwan recipes, each from a specific region, with cultural context and dietary substitutions for every table.
9 recipes
Taiwanese Beef Noodle SoupTaipei, Taiwan · medium · 2 h 55 minChewy wheat noodles in a dark, star-anise beef broth with melting shank and pickled mustard greens.
Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup Dan BingTaipei, Taiwan · easy · 30 minA soft, chewy egg crepe rolled up and sliced, Taiwan's favorite hot breakfast off the griddle.
Gua Bao (Pork Belly Buns)Taipei, Taiwan · medium · 2 h 10 minTaiwan’s famous night-market bun: a pillowy folded steamed bun cradling red-braised pork belly, tangy pickled mustard greens, cilantro, and sweet peanut powder.
Lu Rou FanTaipei, Taiwan · easy · 2 hRice topped with glossy braised minced pork in a five-spice soy sauce, Taiwan's everyday braised-pork bowl.
Pineapple CakeTaipei, Taiwan · medium · 1 h 10 minA buttery shortbread pastry enclosing a chewy, tangy pineapple jam, Taiwan's most popular edible souvenir.
Three-Cup Chicken (San Bei Ji)Taipei, Taiwan · easy · 40 minBone-in chicken braised with heaps of ginger and garlic in a glossy sauce of sesame oil, soy, and rice wine, finished with a flurry of Thai basil.
Yan Su Ji (Taiwanese Salt and Pepper Popcorn Chicken)Taipei, Taiwan · medium · 1 h 15 minBite-sized chicken thigh marinated with garlic, soy sauce and five-spice, coated in coarse sweet potato starch, double-fried until craggy and crisp, and tossed with fried basil and pepper salt.
Pidan Doufu (Taiwanese Century Egg Tofu)Taipei, Taiwan · easy · 10 minA chilled block of silken tofu topped with diced century egg, spring onion and bonito flakes, dressed at the table with lightly sweetened soy sauce and a few drops of sesame oil.
Di Gua Ye (Taiwanese Garlic Sweet Potato Leaves)Taipei, Taiwan · easy · 15 minTender sweet potato leaves and shoots stir-fried in a very hot wok with plenty of garlic and a splash of water until just wilted, silky and bright green.
📋 Teaching Taiwan?A free, printable Country of the Week guide for the classroom: geography, a kid-friendly recipe, and discussion prompts.
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