The History
Taiwanese Braised Rice originated from Taiwan. This fantastic dish has over a hundred years of history. According to the locals, when their great-great-grandparents arrived in Taiwan, their income source was from agriculture and poultry. As meat can be sold for a higher price than vegetables, they would rather sell it than eat it.
During the festive season, the rich would sacrifice animals (most of the time, pig) to worship God. After the worshipping, the rich would give away the meat to their friends and family. All of them only receive a small piece of meat as there are too many of them.
They would cut the meat into tiny little pieces and braised until it breaks into more small pieces. The braised meat will then mix with a pot of rice and serve to the family.
The Vegan Version
As a Chinse, I have a fondness of Chinese Food. Being a vegetarian, I found it challenging to find a delicious vegan version of Taiwanese Braised Rice. After a few trial and error, a little Googling. I manage to create a vegan version of Taiwanese Braised Rice!
It is pretty simple as most of the ingredients are vegan and alliums free. You will only find a way to replace the meat.
The Recipe
This pot of goodness is consists of daikon radish, firm tofu, shiitake mushrooms, tofu puff and pair with a lot of rice.
For the braising sauce, you need the ingredients below:
3 slices of ginger (生姜)
1 cinnamon stick (桂皮)
3 star anises (八角)
3 bay leaves (月桂叶)
Half teaspoon of fennel seeds (大茴香)
Sesame oil
Rock sugar to taste
Some other spices needed are below:
1 teaspoon of five spice powder (五香粉)
1 teaspoon of White pepper
Half teaspoon of Black pepper
2 teaspoon of light soy sauce
1 teaspoon of dark soy sauce
Water (just enough to cover the ingredients)
Salt to taste.
You will also need:
200g to 250g of daikon
5 to 7 shitake mushrooms
Tofu
Tofu puff (optional)
Instructions
1) Firstly, sauté 3 slices of ginger (生姜), 1 cinnamon stick (桂皮), 3 star anises (八角), 3 bay leaves (月桂叶), and half tsp of fennel seeds (大茴香) in vegetable oil until fragrant.
2) Follow by adding daikon radish, tofu, 1 tsp five-spice powder (五香粉), white pepper, black pepper, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, water and salt to taste.
3) Later, bring it to a boil, then lower the heat and let it simmer for 10 minutes. and add shiitake mushrooms, toasted sesame oil with some rock sugar (冰糖). Stir until the rock sugar dissolved and let it simmer for another 30 minutes.
It's ready to serve, enjoy while it's hot! 💚
[Alliums-free recipe]
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