Hong Shao Kao Fu, (红烧烤麸) is a Shanghainese vegetarian cold appetizer. Kao fu is a form of wheat gluten, often sold dried, that tastes kind of like tofu. What a lot of people don’t know about Chinese food is the abundance of cold dishes often served before the main meal. This is one of those traditional dishes. If you’re a vegetarian, congratulations! You’ll really enjoy this.
My guess is that you don’t see this dish everyday…in fact, you probably never have. It’s not commonly served in Chinese restaurants around the U.S. unless you’re sitting in a really authentic Shanghainese place. Don’t be alarmed! We must all face our fermented black beans, tofu puffs, and wood ear mushrooms with an open mind. These are ingredients used all the time in Chinese cooking, and can open up a whole new world of authentic Chinese cuisine in your kitchen.
Pick up a pack of kao fu dried wheat gluten (烤麸) in your local Chinese grocery store, dried or fresh (if using fresh, there’s no need to soak it). I made this dish in the afternoon so we could use natural daylight for photos, and the dish never made it to dinner table. We ate everything right after the photo session. That’s how good it is! If you grew up eating this, you already know what I mean. Some people like this dish to be slightly sweeter, as is traditional. If you like, you can add a little more sugar to suit your tastes.
- 2 pieces of dried wheat gluten/kao fu (about 5” x 5” each): Soak in warm water until soft
- 1 dozen shitake mushrooms, soaked in warm water until soft
- 1 small handful of dried wood ear mushrooms, soaked in warm water until soft
- 1 small handful of dried lily-flower, soaked in warm water until soft
- 3 tablespoons oil
- 3 slices ginger
- ¼ cup raw or roasted unsalted peanuts, shelled and skins removed
- 3 tablespoons Shaoxing wine
- 3 tablespoons light soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
- 3 teaspoons sugar
- 3 cups water
Here’s what the kao fu looks like when dry. Looks kind of like a slice of stale bread.
Once the kao fu is soft, rinse it under running water. Then cut each piece into 1-inch by 1-inch squares.
Rinse the mushrooms, wood ears, and lily flower. Drain and set aside.
Heat oil in your wok over high heat. Add the ginger and fry for 30 seconds. Add the wheat gluten, and cook until slightly browned, about 2 minutes.
Add the mushrooms, wood ear, lily flower, and peanuts. Mix everything well. Then add the wine, soy sauces, sugar, and water. Stir well and bring to a boil. Cover the pan, turn the heat to low, and simmer for about 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes to prevent sticking. Serve warm or cold (this is usually served as a cold dish).
Have you ever tried this dish or Shanghai Cuisine? We’d like to hear about it!
- 2 pieces of dried wheat gluten/kao fu (about 5” x 5” each): Soak in warm water until soft
- 1 dozen shiitake mushrooms, soaked in warm water until soft
- 1 small handful of dried wood ear mushrooms, soaked in warm water until soft
- 1 small handful of dried lily-flower, soaked in warm water until soft
- 3 tablespoons oil
- 3 slices ginger
- ¼ cup raw or roasted unsalted peanuts, shelled and skins removed
- 3 tablespoons Shaoxing wine
- 3 tablespoons light soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
- 3 teaspoons sugar
- 3 cups water
- Once the kao fu is soft, rinse it under running water. Then cut each piece into 1-inch by 1-inch squares. Rinse the mushrooms, wood ears, and lily flower. Drain and set aside.
- Heat oil in your wok over high heat. Add the ginger and fry for 30 seconds. Add the kao fu, and cook until slightly browned, about 2 minutes. Add the mushrooms, wood ear, lily flower, and peanuts. Mix everything well. Then add the wine, soy sauces, sugar, and water. Stir well and bring to a boil.
- Cover the pan, turn the heat to low, and simmer for about 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes to prevent sticking. Serve warm or cold (this is usually served as a cold dish).
Leyah says
I finally found a recipe of this dish! I’ve been buying it inside this grocery store where they sell hot food and I love it! I will definitely try to cook it myself, so excited
Judy says
Hi Leyah, I think that anyone who tries this dish will love it!
Ted says
Thank you!
My mom (Irish girl from Long Island) used to make this. She learned to cook Chinese food from the owner of a Chinese market in Stony Brook.
When I was a kid you got to pick the menu for dinner on your birthday. This was always on mine.
I’m hitting the market this week and making this!
Judy says
Wow, that’s pretty wild, Ted. I thought only the Shanghainese liked this dish––I have not seen it anywhere outside the Shanghai area. Please let me know how you like this recipe.
Courtney says
Thanks for posting this! I got roped into buying a ton of wheat gluten by the tofu lady at my wet market just before the government closed it down. I knew this dish existed, but no one could tell me how to make it or even the name of it…most people buy it pre-made. Will definitely try it out. :)
Judy says
Hope you like this Shanghainese all time favorite :-)
Nia Garcia says
This looks like such an easy recipe and perfect for a novice like me! I’m going to try this :) I’ve only had it hot with noodles from a restaurant that makes dishes with Szechuan flavours but calls it Ramen – Shhhhh! Don’t tell the Germans! It makes such a fantastic mock beef, so one day I’d like to be able to use it to make a vegan Chinese Beef Noodle Soup. Thank you for this recipe :)
Nia Garcia says
Just in case you were wondering – this “Ramen” restaurant I speak of is in Germany! Haha!
Judy says
Hi Nia, hope you give this recipe a try and let me know what you think. :-)
Ted says
Thank you!
My mom (Irish girl from Long Island) used to make this. She learned to cook Chinese food from the owner of a Chinese market in Stony Brook.
When I was a kid she would make this for my birthday.
I’m hitting the market this week and making this!
Judy says
Wow, really!? What a story! Thank you so much for sharing it, Ted.
Maria says
I love this dish for Chinese New Year. My mom made it only once a year. Its been almost 10 years since I last ate! Love your receipe when I noticed no deep frying (my mom’s receipe)! Can’t wait to try and cook it but very hard to find the wheat gluten in Hawaii, so sad! Wish we have Chinese ingredients to mail order like Amazon site, that would be awesome! Thank you for sharing this receipe, I only wrote one up from my mom’s verbal instructions! Mahalo!謝謝你！
Judy says
Hi Maria, you know you can make your own wheat gluten by washing wheat flour, extracting the wheat gluten, then steaming it. Search it on youtube. You might be able to find a recipe or two.
Angela says
as a vegan with a shanghainese mother (and her taste buds), thank you! i’ve always loved this dish when we went to shanghai, but my mom never knew how to make it. i’ve made it for her and gotten her seal of approval! i’m also going to try my hand your vegan shu mai; i haven’t had shu mai since i stopped eating meat, and i miss it.
Judy says
Hahaha… almost all Shanghainese people love this dish. Please let us know how you like the vegan shu mai.
Ethyl says
I’ve been experiencing tofu burnout lately so this was a great recipe to add into the rotation! It definitely is better at room temp — the gluten firms up a bit as it cools so it is more chompy. Thanks for helping me discover a new ingredient!
Bill says
I understand, Ethyl, so glad you enjoyed this dish! You should also try this super tasty Cantonese classic with soy bean sticks, which is another soy product: Buddha’s Delight.