Tāu-kuann-tshiám

Tāu-kuann-tshiám

Course	snack
Place of origin	Taiwan
Region or state	Yilan County

Tāu-kuann-tshiám (Chinese :豆乾攕; Tâi-lô :tāu-kuann-tshiám; lit.'skewered dried tofu'), also known as Chinese :一串心; Tongyong Pinyin :yí chuàn sīn; lit.'one skewer of heart' in Mandarin, is a traditional Taiwanese street food originating in the Lanyang Plain of Yilan County, Taiwan. It is a skewered food made by stuffing various cooked ingredients into hollow fried tofu and threading them onto a long bamboo skewer. The dish is considered a regional specialty of Yilan and is commonly sold at night markets and street stalls. ^[1] The Mandarin name of the dish comes from the song of the same name by singer Jean Shen. ^[2]

Overview

Tāu-kuann-tshiám is characterized by its modular composition. Hollow fried tofu pockets are filled with a variety of cooked ingredients, then layered with herbs and vegetables before being skewered together. After assembly, the skewer is typically brushed with a savory sauce and served warm. ^[3]

The dish is known for allowing customers to choose different combinations of fillings, contributing to its popularity as an affordable and customizable snack. ^[4]

Preparation

The basic preparation involves the following steps:

• Hollow fried tofu is prepared or selected.
• Fillings such as boiled pork scalp, pork intestine noodles, sausage, barbecued pork, or other pork offal are cooked separately.
• The fillings are inserted into the tofu pockets, often along with aromatics such as scallions, Chinese chives, basil, cilantro, or garlic sprouts.
• The stuffed tofu pieces are stacked and pierced with a long bamboo skewer.
• Sauce is brushed or poured over the skewer before serving.

In recent years, variations such as charcoal-grilled tāu-kuann-tshiám have emerged, adding a smoky flavor while retaining the original structure of the dish. ^[5]

See also

• Taiwanese cuisine
• Street food

References

1. 江志雄 (1 March 2018). "天天吃好料》羅東米粉焿、一串心 道地宜蘭味". Liberty Times (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 27 January 2026.
2. "快新聞／〈一串心〉玉女歌手沈雁在美過世 享壽60歲". Formosa Television (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 5 February 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
3. 李寶琴 (10 December 2021). "一串心奪下全國創意料理第2名 蘭陽新住民鄭安娜抓住您的味蕾". Kamalan News (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 27 January 2026.
4. 阿發的簡單幸福 (9 November 2022). "串起你心的多種口味變化，在地特色古早味必吃銅板美食". Yahoo! News (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 27 January 2026.
5. VIVIYU小世界 (12 December 2024). "羅東人愛吃這間！古早味「一串心」濃郁帶嚼勁、柴魚香米粉羹超推". ETtoday (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 27 January 2026.