In the depths of memory, the taste of hometown always makes people can't help but feel infinite nostalgia between their lips and teeth. As one of the special snacks in Northwest China, Meat Sandwich Bun has conquered the taste buds of countless diners with its unique flavor and full taste since ancient times. This childhood street food, although it may be a little rough in appearance and preparation, its taste full of simple emotions can often arouse the deepest feelings of homesickness.
Replicating this traditional Northwest snack at home doesn't require too many tricks, just a few simple ingredients and steps. The first is for the preparation of the dough. Choose about 500 grams of high-quality all-purpose flour, mix it with an appropriate amount of warm water to form a soft dough, add an appropriate amount of salt and a small amount of oil to enhance the toughness and taste, and let it rest for about an hour.
Next is the baking of the bun. Divide the dough into equal sizes, roll out each dough into a round cake shape, and pay attention to make it even. Brush a little oil in a frying pan and slowly sear the rolled dough over low heat until golden brown on both sides and a little firm, so as to ensure that the taste of the bun is chewy and not too soft.
Then it is the production of minced meat, choose about 500 grams of pork belly and cut it into large pieces, add an appropriate amount of water, add star anise, cinnamon, bay leaves and other ingredients, add light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, salt and rock sugar, boil over high heat, turn to low heat and simmer until the meat pieces are crispy, during which the ingredients can be adjusted appropriately according to the taste. After the meat is cooked, remove it, tear it into thin strips after cooling, and soak it in the original soup for a while, so that the shredded meat can fully absorb the deliciousness of the soup.
While preparing the filling, you can make some refreshing side dishes, such as cold cucumbers, pickled radish, etc., which not only add layering, but also enrich the taste of the meat sandwich bun. The kitchen is filled with the aroma of stewed meat, complemented by the fresh smell of side dishes.
Finally, before serving, cut the bun in half to form a pocket, being careful not to cut it off. Take an appropriate amount of stewed shredded pork, sandwich it into a bun, add an appropriate amount of garlic, chili powder and the side dishes just prepared. The high bulging bun is full of pork belly, oily but not greasy, crispy and juicy, every bite is a hometown flavor, and every bite is endlessly memorable.
Homemade meat buns don't need to be too exquisite, its deliciousness lies in the homely cooking, that pure memory. The simple and easy-to-do process not only allows people to taste the food, but also is a kind of emotional sustenance and transmission. As a way to bring the taste of hometown into everyday life, this family-style meat sandwich bun is simple and distinctive, carrying infinite memories and making people feel warm at the same time.
Meat bun is not only a food, it represents a culture, an emotion, and a home. Every time you make and taste it, you can feel the pure happiness you feel as when you were a child. Imagine your family sitting around and watching the steaming heat fill the air and the smell of meat fills the air, and the warmth and satisfaction is far greater than any lavish meal. There is a taste of nostalgia in everyone's heart, and for me, that's the taste of hometown – meat buns.