Buzz
When Taiwan comes to mind, bustling night markets with unique street foods often take center stage. Just a leisurely stroll through Taiwan's night markets, and one can stumble upon a myriad of diverse delicacies like beef noodles, steamed buns, and more. Among them, Taiwan's coffin bread stands out as the most intriguing dish, from its name to its flavor. So, what's inside this chillingly named bread? Let's explore the truth behind this mysterious street food with Mytour.
The Origins of Taiwan's Coffin Bread
Taiwan's coffin bread is a long-standing specialty at the night markets of Southern and Northern Taiwan, dating back to the 1940s. The reason behind its 'spooky' name is its resemblance to a 'miniature coffin.' In reality, it's just a slice of crispy bread, about 3 - 5 cm thick, toasted to perfection. Then, a hole is hollowed out in the middle, with a lid placed on top. It's this unique presentation that earned this dish the moniker, 'Taiwan's coffin bread.'
The unique shape of Taiwan's coffin bread resembles a miniature coffin (Image Source: Collection)
Coffin bread was invented by a chef named Hsiung Liu Yi, residing in Southern Taiwan. Initially, Mr. Hsiung named this dish 'Shakaliba.' According to Japanese phonetics, it means a central entertainment hub. The reason behind this name is because Southern Taiwan is a prime relaxation and entertainment destination in Taiwan. However, due to the bread's striking resemblance to a coffin, diners affectionately dubbed it 'Gua Cai Ban' (Taiwanese for coffin).
The somewhat 'eerie' nickname sparked curiosity among many diners. Over time, coffin bread became famous and attracted a large following of culinary enthusiasts worldwide. Particularly among the youth, this dish once 'stormed' through social media platforms.
Why is Taiwan's coffin bread so popular?
Not only impressing with its name and appearance, Taiwan's coffin bread has won over every diner's heart with its authentic flavor. The crispy outer crust blends perfectly with the rich layer of creamy filling, packed with flavorful meat and vegetables. Altogether, they create a delicious aroma and rich taste that leaves even the most discerning diners in awe.
Many diners mistakenly believe that the filling inside the 'coffin' would be as bizarre and frightening as its name suggests. However, the filling consists entirely of delicious and savory ingredients such as creamy chicken, seafood, pork belly, mushrooms, carrots, corn, green beans, beef,... All these ingredients are mixed and finely chopped. Then, Taiwan's coffin bread is baked to perfection and enjoyed while still hot.
Modern coffin bread now comes with sweet fillings suitable for 'sweet tooth' enthusiasts (Image Source: Collection)
Over time, diners' preferences have become more diverse. Therefore, many chefs have creatively added various sweet fillings. Some sweet fillings include banana, strawberry, mango, peach,... With unique names, distinctive shapes, and delicious flavors, Taiwan's coffin bread has solidified its position among the top famous street foods in Taiwan.
How to Make Taiwan's Coffin Bread
Taiwan's coffin bread is made quite quickly and easily without many complicated recipes. The ingredients are also extremely simple. Mytour will reveal the 'traditional recipe' of this famous dish!
Ingredients Needed
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1 slice of sandwich bread
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Cooking oil
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100 grams of shrimp
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100 grams of pork
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100 grams of squid (cut into small pieces)
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Mixed vegetables (carrots, green beans, corn, finely chopped)
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300ml chicken broth
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Potato starch
Recipe for preparing Taiwan's coffin bread
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Step 1: First, evenly fry both sides of the sandwich bread until golden brown and crispy!
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Step 2: Use a knife to hollow out the middle part of the bread and remove the hollowed-out portion.
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Step 3: Heat a pan over medium heat. Then, add cooking oil, pork, shrimp, squid, and mixed vegetables one by one. Next, stir-fry the ingredients evenly.
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Step 4: Pour in chicken broth and mix the mixture evenly.
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Step 5: Add two spoons of potato starch and stir until the mixture is smooth and thick.
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Step 6: Finally, drizzle the smooth sauce into the center of the hollow part of the bread and it's ready to enjoy.
The best place to buy the most delicious Taiwan's coffin bread?
Taiwan's coffin bread originates from Southern Taiwan - a province in the southern part of Taiwan. Therefore, to enjoy the 'authentic' dish, you can only visit night markets such as Shilin Market, Hoa Liên Market, ZiQiang Market,...
Diners can easily find Taiwan's coffin bread in various night markets in Taiwan (Image Source: Collection)
Additionally, diners can visit the oldest coffin bread shop, also the creator of this dish - Chikan Eatery. Each bread is priced between 60 NDT/piece. If you ever visit Southern Taiwan, you must go and experience this unique dish!
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Restaurant address: No. 180, Zhongzheng Street, Southern Taiwan, Taiwan.
Other famous street foods in Taiwan
Besides the legendary Taiwan's coffin bread, diners can explore some other famous street foods.
Xiao Long Bao
Xiao Long Bao is a special dumpling with soup inside the filling. This is a dumpling you can't find anywhere else. The soup is incredibly aromatic and flavorful, leaving many diners nostalgic for its unique taste.
Inside the Xiao Long Bao is a rich sauce blending with tender pork (Image Source: Collection)
You can find Xiao Long Bao at traditional restaurants in Taiwan or street food stalls throughout the night markets in Taipei.
Scallion Pancake
Scallion pancake is always a favorite street food of many international tourists visiting Taiwan. This pancake features a delicious scallion filling and crispy crust. You can easily find this unique pancake anywhere on the streets of Taiwan.
Scallion pancake is a beloved street food by international travelers (Image Source: Collection)
Peanut Roll Ice Cream
At first glance, this dish has a rather strange name. However, peanut roll ice cream is truly a 'folk flavor' that you should try at least once. Essentially, it's a burrito-style ice cream or ground peanut candy mixed with cilantro. Initially, we might think this dish isn't particularly appealing. However, only when you taste it will you truly appreciate the sweet taste of the ice cream blending with the rich flavor of cilantro. All flavors are incredibly unique and tantalizing, making it unforgettable.
Peanut roll ice cream is one of the unique delicacies, a 'must-try' in Taiwan (Image Source: Collection)
It's no exaggeration to say that Taiwan is the biggest treasure trove of street food in East Asia. Alongside Taiwan's coffin bread, travelers can easily find any delicious, nutritious, and affordable dish. If you've fallen in love with this beautiful island, quickly book a budget Taiwan tour as soon as possible. Contact Mytour now via hotline Mytour for free consultation on itinerary, tour prices, and other special offers.
