At the table
Eat the gluten and other ingredients together, with rice if you like. Let sauce-soaked gluten cool before biting and remove any shrimp shells.
Contains wheat gluten, shrimp, oyster sauce and sesame oil. Sauce ingredients may also include soy. Check the actual seasoning and do not treat the gluten as a sign that the dish is vegetarian.
Choose a mild preparation, cool it and cut chewy gluten, bamboo and shrimp into manageable pieces. Remove any shells and check the child’s chewing ability.
Recipes vary. Ask the restaurant about ingredients and serving before you order.
GET TO KNOW THE DISH
What goes into it?
Explore some key ingredients below. Preparations may use additional seasonings and ingredients.
In one preparation the four ingredients are fried gluten, bamboo shoots, shiitake mushrooms and shrimp, finished with oyster sauce, sugar and sesame oil. Ingredient proportions vary; steamed kaofu dishes are separate preparations.
Typical ingredients
Recipes vary by restaurant.
How does it taste?
The featured recipe is mildly sweet and savory, with mushroom, shrimp and sesame aromas and no added chili. Seasoning can vary by cook.
- Chili heat
- Texture
- Soft, sauce-soaked fried gluten with bamboo crunch, tender shiitake and plump shrimp.
- How it’s made
- Press fried gluten in hot water to deflate, briefly simmer with bamboo, soaked shiitake and blanched shrimp, then toss in a scallion-oil sauce with oyster sauce and sugar, thicken, and finish with sesame oil.
In one preparation the four ingredients are fried gluten, bamboo shoots, shiitake mushrooms and shrimp, finished with oyster sauce, sugar and sesame oil. Ingredient proportions vary; steamed kaofu dishes are separate preparations.
A CONNECTION TO PLACE
Origin & regional roots
Associated with Jiangsu.
About this regional connection
Jiangsu: Associated with Wuxi festive/home cooking; not exclusive monopoly.
Ask if they have it first
请问你们有四喜面筋吗？
Do you have this item?
A LITTLE SOMETHING TO READ
Story & history
Four ingredients, contrasting textures
This Wuxi preparation brings fried wheat gluten together with bamboo shoots, shiitake and shrimp. Softening and pressing the hollow gluten puffs makes them collapse so they take up the sauce. Their soft folds contrast with the bamboo and shrimp. The name’s four joys suits a shared family table, but it does not mean this shrimp-and-oyster-sauce dish is vegetarian.