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Wuhan mianwo
Miànwō (面窝): Wuhan rice and soybean fritter rings with sesame
Wuhan people call breakfast "guozao", and mianwo is one of its icons: a ring of rice and soybean batter fried in a special ladle with a raised centre, so it ends up thick and soft round the rim and thin and crackly in the middle, flecked with sesame and spring onion. It is eaten with hot dry noodles or a bowl of soy milk. The mistake is oil that is too cool: the batter soaks it up and turns greasy; it must hiss strongly the moment it goes in. Without a mianwo ladle, use a deep ladle and spread the batter thinner in the middle with a spoon. Chef's tip: give the batter a quick stir before every fritter, because the rice settles to the bottom fast.
- Total time
- 40 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 1 ⅜ oz dried soybeanssoaked overnight
- 7 oz rice flour
- 1 ¼ cups waterabout
- ¾ tsp salt
- 3 spring onionsfinely chopped
- ⅜ in fresh gingerfinely grated
- 2 tbsp white sesame seeds
- 3 cups neutral oilfor deep frying
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Drain 1 ⅜ oz dried soybeans and blend with 150 ml of the 1 ¼ cups water for 2 minutes until very smooth.
Step 2: Whisk into 7 oz rice flour with ¾ tsp salt, adding the rest of the water a little at a time, until the batter flows like thick cream. Stir in 3 spring onions, ⅜ in fresh ginger and 2 tbsp white sesame seeds.
Step 3: Heat 3 cups neutral oil in a wok or deep pan to 350°F. Dip the ladle in the hot oil, pour in about 4 tablespoons of batter, and push the centre thin with a spoon so it makes a ring with a thin middle.
2 minStep 4: Lower the ladle into the oil; after about 1 minute the fritter will release. Fry for 3–4 minutes more, turning, until deep golden and crisp at the edge.
5 minStep 5: Drain on a rack and repeat, stirring the batter each time. Eat hot.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 300 kcal
- Protein
- 8 g
- Carbs
- 36 g
- Fat
- 14 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does wuhan mianwo take?
- About 40 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of spring onions?
- Chives, or a little finely sliced onion.
- What can I use instead of fresh ginger?
- ¼ tsp ground ginger per tbsp fresh (add it with the spices).
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