Peking mushroom pancakes

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Place all the mushrooms on a roasting tray. Sprinkle over the Chinese five spice, chilli flakes and sea salt, and drizzle over the tamari or light soya sauce and canola oil. Roast for 10–12 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, place the pancakes in a small bamboo steamer set up over a wok half-filled with water. Steam the pancakes for 8 minutes, then take off the heat and set aside. To serve, transfer the mushrooms to a serving plate, and place the hoisin sauce, spring onions and cucumber in small, individual dishes. Place the steamer basket of pancakes on the table and let everyone help themselves.
Cook's note: Instead of duck, I have used an array of mushrooms. If you are not a fan, you can use smoked tofu, cauliflower or baby marrows, but the mushrooms really do work well – they provide a bold umami flavour and take on the Chinese five-spice brilliantly.
This is an extract from Asian Green by Ching-He Huang. It is published by Kyle Books and is distributed in SA by Jonathan Ball Publishers. Find it at good bookstores for R475.
Photographs: Tamin Jones