Skip to main content

Chinese Grilled Gluten Skewers

🍢 Chinese Grilled Gluten Skewers 


 (Kǎo Miàn Jīn) is a classic street food from China, especially popular at night markets and barbecue stalls. It features skewered wheat gluten grilled over charcoal or an open flame, brushed with a savory-spicy sauce, and finished with fragrant spices. Its chewy texture and smoky flavor make it irresistible.


🛒 Ingredients

For the Skewers

  • Fresh wheat gluten : 400 g (or store-bought gluten balls/rolls)

  • Bamboo skewers (soaked in water for 30 minutes): 6–8

For the Marinade

  • Light soy sauce: 3 tbsp

  • Dark soy sauce: 1 tbsp

  • Oyster sauce: 1 tbsp

  • Chili paste or chili sauce: 1 tbsp (adjust to taste)

  • Garlic: 3 cloves, minced

  • Cumin powder: 1 tsp

  • Chili powder (or paprika): 1 tsp

  • Sugar: ½ tsp

  • Sesame oil: 1 tsp

For Sprinkling

  • Ground cumin: ½ tsp

  • Chili flakes: ½ tsp

  • White sesame seeds: 1 tsp

  • Fresh cilantro (optional, chopped): for garnish


👩‍🍳 Instructions

Step 1. Prepare the Gluten

  1. If using fresh wheat gluten, cut it into bite-sized chunks or roll into long strips.

  2. If using pre-shaped gluten balls/rolls, leave them whole or slice slightly to help absorb flavor.

  3. Thread the gluten pieces tightly onto soaked bamboo skewers.


Step 2. Make the Marinade

  1. In a bowl, mix soy sauces, oyster sauce, chili paste, garlic, cumin powder, chili powder, sugar, and sesame oil.

  2. Brush the marinade evenly over the skewered gluten, making sure all sides are coated.

  3. Let them rest for 15–20 minutes to absorb the flavors.


Step 3. Grill the Skewers

  1. Preheat a charcoal grill, stovetop grill pan, or oven broiler.

  2. Place the skewers over medium heat. Grill while continuously turning to prevent burning.

  3. Brush with extra marinade during grilling to keep them juicy and flavorful.

  4. Grill until golden brown, slightly charred, and fragrant (8–10 minutes).


Step 4. Season and Serve

  1. Once cooked, sprinkle skewers generously with ground cumin, chili flakes, and sesame seeds.

  2. Garnish with fresh cilantro if desired.

  3. Serve hot as a snack or side dish — chewy, smoky, and packed with flavor.


🌟 Tips

  • For authentic street food flavor, charcoal grilling works best.

  • Adjust chili and cumin levels to suit your spice tolerance.

  • You can also prepare gluten skewers in advance and reheat quickly on the grill for gatherings.


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

“China’s No.1 Hearty Dish: Hong Shao Rou (Braised Pork Belly)”

In China, one of the most common and beloved dishes on the family dining table is braised pork belly (hong shao rou). However, the preparation of this dish varies between the northern and southern regions of China. Today, we’re sharing the Southern-style method of making braised pork belly. Here’s what it looks like when it’s done: 🍲 Ingredients: Pork belly (three parts lean to three parts fat, preferably with skin) Light soy sauce – to taste Dark soy sauce – to taste Yellow or aged rock sugar – a small handful Huangjiu (Chinese cooking wine) – to taste Salt – to taste Chicken bouillon powder – to taste (optional) Beer – one can Spring onion segments, star anise (1 piece) – to taste Ginger slices, bay leaves (3–4 leaves) – to taste 👨‍🍳 Instructions: Blanch the pork: Cut pork belly into evenly sized small cubes. Blanch in boiling water for 10 minutes to remove impurities and some excess fat. Drain and set aside. Render and caramelize: ...

A particularly simple Chinese cold dish

Some people say that Chinese people are not of high quality, this I admit. But some people say that Chinese food is not good, this I disagree. Chinese people still have their own way of doing things when it comes to food. We can use very simple ingredients to make very tasty food. For example, you can make a simple but very tasty cold dish with spring onions and tofu. Ingredients for tofu with spring onions: Tofu 1 piece of small onion moderate amount Salt moderate amount Sesame sesame oil moderate amount (about 5g) Method: 1: Wash the tofu; small onions, wash and drain; 2: tofu into a bowl, crushed with a spoon, there are small cubes does not matter, eat better texture; 3: small onion minced, about 5 mm wide; 4: small onions into the tofu, according to taste sprinkle a little salt; 5: and then drizzle a little sesame sesame oil, sesame sesame sesame oil is the finishing touch to this dish, do not add on the bland and tasteless; mix well. Warm tips: this dish for the wine dishes. With ...

Delicious Garlic Fried Spare Ribs

  Chinese Deep Fried Series  Garlic Fried Spare Ribs is a home-style dish made from pork spare ribs, marinated in garlic and deep-fried twice, featuring a crispy exterior and tender interior, with a strong garlic flavour. Time: about 20-25 minutes  Difficulty: zero cookery Ingredients : Marinated Spare Ribs  Spare Ribs      400g  Soy Sauce      10g  Wine              10g  Pepper Salt    10g  Black Pepper  1g  Salt                 1g  Garlic Batter  Plain Flour (Medium Gluten)    50g  Eggs                      2  Garlic                    30g  Salt                       1g  Fresh Water          ...