Taiwanese Steamed Bun Tacos

Make your simple slaw. If you want to buy store bought, go ahead, but making your own is just too simple. Place your cabbage, carrot, onion, salt and pepper, and mayonnaise into a bowl. Add the vinegar and sugar. Mix well and set aside.

Visit a local oriental grocery store and find their frozen Taiwanese steamed buns called, gwa pao.

The next step is to take your frozen gwa pao out from the freezer and steam them according to the package instructions. This gives you an opportunity to use your steamer as well. If you do not have one, I recommend a bamboo steamer from an oriental grocery store. You have three tiers of steaming, and it is great for making dim sum. Plus they are really affordable!

While the buns are steaming, I take a couple of handfuls of the succulent pulled pork, and add it to a preheated skillet with a bit of oil. I like to lightly crisp up some of the pulled pork, plus my family goes nuts over it. Take your steamed buns out of the steamer and place in a covered vessel, like a tortilla warmer. The goal is to keep them warm.

When we all sat down at the table, the kids did not know what was going on. They asked what was for dinner, and I said tacos. Tacos? They did not see any tortillas, nor cheese, or sliced avocado, cilantro, or onion for that matter. You could see their confusion.

After explaining my idea of a new taco, they were curious, and began piling the pulled pork into the lovely steamed bun. Coleslaw and barbecue sauce were there for the taking, but my kids kept it simple, as they do their tacos: meat and bun. They loved them! My wife was excited about them as well and gobbled them up, as I did. I made mine with the works, using coleslaw and a beer barbecue sauce.

The result was an experience like no other. It was like we were eating dim sum, and these great tacos were on the menu that the non-Asian cook in the back of the kitchen decided to whip up. They were amazing and I still think of them a lot. So go ahead and visit a local oriental grocery store, and take your time to browse around, because it is times when you encounter something like the gwa pao that will allow you to ultimately create something wonderful. Enjoy!