History

Soy milk and youtiao came to Taiwan with mainland Chinese refugees in 1949, particularly from Shandong and Anhui. The breakfast became a Taipei institution through chains like Yong He Soya Milk King (founded 1955 in Yonghe District, now across the city). Fuhang Soy Milk in Taipei is Bib Gourmand-listed and the queue benchmark, fresh-ground every morning with the breakfast crowd.

Common allergens: Gluten, Soy

Make it at home

Yield Serves 2Hands-on 20 minTotal 12 hrDifficulty Intermediate

Ingredients

  • 200g dry soybeans, soaked overnight
  • 1.5 litres water
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 30ml light soy sauce
  • 30ml black rice vinegar
  • 30g preserved radish, chopped
  • 30g dried shrimp, soaked
  • 2 spring onions, sliced
  • Pre-fried youtiao crullers (sold at Asian stores) or store-bought beignets, warmed
  • Chilli oil, to taste

Method

  1. Drain soaked soybeans. Blend with 1.5 litres water in batches until smooth.
  2. Strain through cheesecloth into a heavy pot; press to extract liquid. Save the okara pulp for another use.
  3. Bring soy milk to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly to prevent burning. Simmer 10 minutes.
  4. For salty: place 1 teaspoon vinegar, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, half the radish and dried shrimp in each bowl. Ladle in hot soy milk; it will curdle slightly into a creamy texture.
  5. For sweet: add 1 tablespoon sugar to the soy milk in the pot.
  6. Top with spring onions and chilli oil. Tear youtiao into bowls or serve alongside for dipping.

Tip from the editors. Vinegar in the bowl curdles the soy milk on contact, giving the classic salty texture. Skip the vinegar for plain sweet soy milk.

This is the TableJourney editorial recipe, modelled on the canonical bistro / counter version. The first place to try the dish in its city of origin is below.

Where to eat hot soy milk and youtiao breakfast

Hot soy milk and youtiao breakfast in Taipei

Fuhang Soy Milk ★ 4.6

Classic Taiwanese breakfastNT$35 to NT$120zhongzhengTue to Sun 05:30 to 12:30, closed MondaysWalk-in only

Fuhang Soy Milk is the queue Taiwanese breakfast counter near Shandao Temple in Taipei. Fresh-ground soy milk, youtiao, sesame shaobing. Bib Gourmand listed.

Order: Salty soy milk with youtiao soaked in, plus a sesame shaobing.

Tip: Closed Mondays. Cash only; queue from 06:00 weekends.

2F, No. 108, Section 1, Zhongxiao East Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City 100

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