Bao & Beyond: 8 Chinese Breakfast Favorites

Anjali Prasertong
Anjali Prasertong
Anjali Prasertong is a writer and public health dietitian focused on food systems, racial equity, and nutrition. Originally from Los Angeles, she has taught English in rural Japan, worked as a private chef in Malibu, and led an innovative city-funded corner store program in New Orleans that increased fresh food access in low-income neighborhoods. She was previously a contributing editor for The Kitchn, and currently lives in Denver with her husband and two kids.
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updated May 2, 2019
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From a simple bowl of rice porridge to luo buo gao, a savory steamed turnip cake served thinly sliced and fried, Chinese breakfasts are one of the most satisfying ways to start the day. Want to try your hand at making these and other dim sum favorites? Check out the recipes below!

1. Scallion Pancake – This savory pancake is crispy, chewy and layered with nuggets of green onion.

2. Congee – Simple and comforting, rice porridge is a great way to use up day-old rice and an excellent vehicle for leftover vegetables and proteins.

3. Fresh Soymilk – Freshly-made soymilk is tasty enough to eat like soup: warm in a bowl, with a big spoon.

4. Crullers (You Tiao) from Chinese Food About.com – Warm soymilk is especially good with a couple of fried crullers on the side for dipping. It’s like the unsweetened, Chinese version of doughnuts and coffee.

5. Turnip Cake (Luo Buo Gao) from Epicurious – This cake made with Chinese turnip, a relative of Japanese daikon radish, is steamed, cut into thin slices and fried.

6. Pork Buns from I Made That! – Does it get any better than sweet, sticky glazed pork stuffed into soft baked buns?

7. Egg-Filled Breakfast Crepe (Jian Bing) from La Fuji Mama – Jian bing are like thin omelette-filled crepes speckled with green onions. This version also includes some chili sauce for a little heat.

8. Sesame Balls (Jin Dui) from Wok In Time – Not strictly a breakfast treat, these sweet balls of sesame-studded glutinous rice are usually stuffed with lotus paste or sweet bean paste.

Do you have any favorite Chinese breakfast items?

Related: Oranges and Dumplings: 10 Recipes for Chinese New Year

(Images: Faith Durand; Dana Velden; Anjali Prasertong; Flickr member beggs licensed under Creative Commons; Flickr member fotoosvanrobin licensed under Creative Commons; I Made That!; La Fuji Mama; Wok In Time)

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