Steamed Buns With Simmered Daikon and Shiitake, Pickled Bean Sprouts, and Spicy Mayonnaise (Vegan) Recipe

By
J. Kenji López-Alt
Kenji Lopez Alt
J. Kenji López-Alt
Culinary Consultant
Kenji is the former culinary director for Serious Eats and a current culinary consultant for the site. He is also a New York Times food columnist and the author of The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science.
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Updated Aug. 30, 2018
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J. Kenji Lopez-Alt

Vegan Chinese steamed buns filled with juicy simmered daikon and shiitake mushrooms along with a spicy mayonnaise and pickled mung bean sprouts.

Note: Mirin is a sweet Japanese rice wine that can be found in most supermarkets or Asian grocers. If unavailable, substitute an extra quarter cup of sake and sugar.

Recipe Details

Steamed Buns With Simmered Daikon and Shiitake, Pickled Bean Sprouts, and Spicy Mayonnaise (Vegan) Recipe

Active 20 mins
Total 60 mins
Serves 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 (6-inch) piece daikon radish, about 2-inches wide, peeled

  • 1 cup sake

  • 1/4 cup mirin

  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce

  • 2 tablespoons plus 1/2 cup sugar, divided

  • 1 cup water, divided

  • 1 small piece konbu (dried sea kelp, optional)

  • 12 fresh shiitake mushroom caps, each about 1 1/2-inches wide

  • 1/2 pound mung bean sprouts

  • 1/2 cup rice wine vinegar

  • Kosher salt

  • 1 jalapeño pepper, split in half

  • 1/2 cup homemade or store-bought vegan mayonnaise

  • 1/4 cup chile-garlic sauce, such as sriracha

  • 12 Chinese sandwich-style steamed buns (bao)

  • 4 scallions, very thinly sliced on an extreme bias, stored in a bowl of cold water in the fridge

  • 1/2 cup picked fresh cilantro leaves

Directions

  1. Cut daikon into twelve 1/2-inch slices. Combine sake, mirin, soy, 2 tablespoons sugar, 1/2 cup water, and konbu (if using) in a medium saucepan. Add daikon slices and shiitake. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce to a bare simmer. Cover and cook, turning and rotating daikon occasinally until daikon is completely tender and colored all the way through, about 30 minutes. Transfer daikon and mushrooms to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Return remaining liquid to a gently boil over medium heat and cook until reduced to 1/4 cup, about 10 minutes. Set aside.

  2. While daikon is cooking, place mung bean sprouts in a medium bowl. Combine vinegar, remaining 1/2 cup water, remaining 1/2 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and jalapeño in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Pour hot liquid over bean sprouts, then place a clean, lint-free paper towel or kitchen towel directly on the surface of the liquid, pressing down until it is completely saturated and keeps the bean sprouts submerged. Set aside to cool.

  3. Combine mayonnaise and chile-garlic sauce in a blender and blend until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.

  4. When daikon and shiitake are cooked, place steamed buns on a plate and cover with a damp paper towel. Microwave on high power until hot, about 1 minute. Spread spicy mayonnaise in each steamed bun, then add a slice of simmered daikon and a shiitake, a drizzle of the reduced simmering liquid, some pickled mung bean sprouts, sliced scallions, and cilantro leaves. Close sandwiches and serve with extra miso mayonnaise on the side for dipping. Excess mung bean sprouts can be stored submerged in pickling liquid in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 1 month. Extra mayonnaise can be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

This Recipe Appears In

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
375 Calories
10g Fat
57g Carbs
5g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 375
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 10g 13%
Saturated Fat 2g 8%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 1047mg 46%
Total Carbohydrate 57g 21%
Dietary Fiber 5g 18%
Total Sugars 42g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 76mg 380%
Calcium 81mg 6%
Iron 1mg 8%
Potassium 643mg 14%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)