Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the dough:
- 2 cups bao flour or all-purpose flour
- 1 cup warm water
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons instant yeast
For the filling:
- 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
- 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup water
- 1 1/2 tablespoons corn starch
- 1 pound ground pork
Instructions
Make the dough:
- In a medium bowl, sift the flour. Then add the water, sugar, vegetable oil, baking powder and yeast to the bowl. Mix with a wooden spoon until well combined.
- Knead the dough with your hands for about 5 minutes. The dough shouldn’t be sticky. If it’s a little sticky, add a little bit of flour. Keep kneading and folding and make a ball.
- Cover the dough with a wet towel and let it rise on the counter for about 20-30 minutes.
Make the filling:
- While the dough is rising, make the filling. Heat a frying pan at medium-high heat. Add the vegetable oil and let it get hot. Add the diced onions and minced garlic to the pan. Sauté for about 2-3 minutes. Then reduce to medium heat.
- Add in the hoisin sauce, soy sauce, oyster sauce, granulated sugar, sesame oil, and salt. Stir well to combine. Whisk together the water and cornstarch in a small bowl. Slowly add to the pan, stir to combine, and let it simmer for about 2 minutes, until the mixture has thickened.
- Add the ground pork to the pan, chopping up the pieces to make sure it’s completely cooked. This can take about 7-10 minutes. Remove from heat once the meat is fully cooked and let it cool completely.
Make the dumplings:
- Sprinkle some flour onto your worktable and place the risen dough on top.
- Fold and flatten with a rolling pin a few times until you have a long rectangle. Then, roll up the dough and cut it into 16 even pieces.
- Using a rolling pin, roll out each individual piece of dough until you have a 3-inch circle.
- Put 1-2 tablespoons of filling in the middle of the dough circle and start folding the edges towards each other, all the way around until you’ve closed the bun.
- Line a bamboo steamer with parchment paper punched with holes and place the buns in the steamer. Make sure not to overcrowd them and leave about 1-inch spaces between them.
- Add about ¼ inch of water to a heavy wok and bring to a boil. Place the bamboo steamer (with the lid on) into the wok and let it steam for about 12-14 minutes. If you aren't using both steamer trays you will need to repeat this step for the next batch. (Make sure there is always water in the wok. You can add a little more if all of the water has reduced.)
- Turn off the heat and let the buns rest for 5 minutes before opening the lid. Missing this step will cause the buns to collapse. Remove from the steamer and enjoy while warm!
Notes
- Unlike other doughs, Bao dough uses wet steam heat for cooking. The result is a puffy, fluffy bun! Click here to buy Bao flour, or find it at your local Asian market.
- Want to make it easier on yourself? You can also make the dough in you stand mixer using the dough hook.
- Make sure your hands are completely dry while making the buns. Moist hands will make it almost impossible to seal the buns.
- If you don't own a bamboo steamer, you can use a regular steamer pot as a backup. Using a bamboo steamer gives you a truly authentic pork buns experience!
- Let the buns rest for 5 minutes after steaming before opening the lid. Missing this step will cause the buns to collapse.
- These pork buns are ideal for freezing (up to three months). Just place them in a plastic baggie a few inches apart. Once ready to use, simply heat them in the microwave for one minute.
- Prep Time: 40 min
- Cook Time: 14 min
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Stove top
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 246
- Sugar: 5.3 g
- Sodium: 219.8 mg
- Fat: 12.7 g
- Carbohydrates: 24.1 g
- Protein: 9.1 g
- Cholesterol: 27.3 mg