Fried Mantou (Leavened Bread Cubes)

Fried Mantou (Leavened Bread Cubes)

Fried Mantou (Leavened Bread Cubes) is a home-style staple dish at difficulty 2/5 (Easy), about 767 kcal. Fried mantou is a savory, crispy home-cooked noodle dish, typical of Northern Ch. Ingredients and step-by-step instructions are below, with notes for home cooking.

Difficulty

2 / 5

★★☆☆☆

Easy
Estimated Calories

767 kcal

Ingredients

  • Steamed mantou (slightly firm, preferably from the day before)
  • Salt
  • Oil
  • Cumin powder
  • Five-spice powder
  • Scallions
  • Eggs (optional)

Steps

  1. Cut the mantou into small cubes or slices.
  2. If using eggs, crack them into a bowl and beat well (optional: add 1g salt and 1g five-spice powder, or skip adding them now and add during cooking).
  3. Pour the eggs over the mantou cubes and toss until evenly coated. Do not use too much egg.
  4. Heat the wok over high heat and add cooking oil (if using a non-stick pot, you can heat the oil directly).
  5. Add the mantou cubes and stir-fry until evenly cooked.
  6. Reduce the heat and continue stir-frying until the mantou cubes turn golden brown.
  7. Add the salt, white pepper (implied context of general spices, though list didn't specify explicitly above, recipe text mentions 'black pepper'), and five-spice powder.
  8. Finally, add the chopped scallions and stir-fry for a few seconds.
  9. Turn off the heat and serve.

Notes

Fried mantou is a savory, crispy home-cooked noodle dish, typical of Northern Chinese cuisine. When stir-fried to golden color, the cubes have a crispy exterior and a soft interior. The addition of cumin and five-spice powder makes the flavor richer. It pairs well with eggs for protein and scallions for a fresh aroma. The difficulty is moderate, making it fast and easy for beginners; estimated cook time is about 15 minutes.

Estimated Difficulty: ★★☆
Estimated Calories: 767 kcal

Calculation:
* 2 Mantou buns (slightly firm preferred)
* Salt 3g
* Oil 20ml (Peanut or sesame oil is best)
* Cumin powder 3g
* Chili powder 3g
* Five-spice powder 3g
* Scallions 2 stalks
* Eggs (Optional, 2 buns)

- During the stir-frying process, control the heat to prevent burning.
- If the fire is too high, reduce it. You can add oil along the edges of the wok to moisten the pan or sprinkle a little water (spread it evenly, do not pour it all in one spot).
- Seasoning can be customized with other spices according to personal taste (e.g., Nade spice mix).
- For a crisper texture, set the heat to the lowest setting, stir-fry for a longer time, remove from the wok, and let it sit while the wok is still hot to finish cooling.
- You can also add side ingredients like minced garlic or garlic sprouts according to your preference; they can be stir-fried separately to release aroma before mixing.

If you follow this guide and encounter issues or find areas for improvement, please open an Issue or Pull Request.

More in this category