Growing up as a kid, crispy Peking duck was one of my favourite takeaways.
My plant-based version uses oyster mushrooms, which I tear into shreds and combine with familiar fillings for a seriously delicious sandwich.
Enjoy!
Ben
Notes:
Avoid tearing the oyster mushrooms too small. The shredded mushrooms will shrink in the oven they they contain lots of moisture, so if in doubt keep don’t shred too small!
We love to use our favourite fillings, which are cucumber and spring onion. But you can also add sliced carrot and fresh coriander, which work really well.
Most shop-bought brands of hoisin sauce are vegan-friendly, but it’s always worth checking the labels to be sure.
Things to know:
Oyster mushrooms work really well because it’s easy to tear them into shreds. Alternatively you can use sliced closed cup or chestnut mushrooms.
We love to make our own mayonnaise using silken tofu, which adds lots of protein to this dish. But you can use vegan mayonnaise, if you prefer.
We use half ciabattas, which are approximately 25cm (10”) in length, but small baguettes or thick crusty bread will also work well.
Tear the oyster mushrooms into shreds with your hands and add them to the tray, followed by the Chinese 5 spice, a drizzle of vegetable oil, a pinch of salt and a generous pinch of pepper. Mix well and roast in the oven for 15 minutes, then stir and roast again for 5-10 minutes or until crispy.
Meanwhile, for the tofu mayo, add the silken tofu to a food processor, along with the zest and juice from the lemon, the maple syrup and a small pinch of salt. Process into a smooth sauce, then set aside.
When the shredded mushroom is perfectly crispy, remove it from the oven and stir in the hoisin sauce. Then return the mushroom to the oven for a minute or so to heat through.
To build the sandwiches, slice the ciabattas in half. Spoon a few dollops of the tofu mayo on the bottom halves, followed by the spring onion, crispy hoisin mushroom, some extra hoisin sauce, the cucumber and sesame seeds. Top with the remaining halves of the ciabatta and slice in half to serve. Enjoy!
