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Steamed bao buns (包子), a complete guide

Tasty filling with fluffy wrapper, homemade bao buns are super comforting! This guide offers tips and tricks to ensure a fail-proof experience.

Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Rest
1 hr
Total Time
1 hr 50 mins
Servings: 12 buns
Calories: 148 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Chinese

Ingredients

For the dough
  • 300 g all-purpose flour or cake flour, see note 1
  • 1 teaspoon dried yeast
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cooking oil see note 2
  • 140 ml lukewarm water see note 3
For the filling
  • 150 g minced pork
  • 1 teaspoon light soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon oyster sauce
  • 1 pinch ground Sichuan pepper or Chinese five-spice powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 4 tablespoon water or unsalted stock
  • 1 tablespoon cooking oil
  • 150 g carrot grated
  • 1 small onion finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoon Coriander finely chopped

Instructions

Prepare the dough
    Cup of Yum
  1. Mix flour, yeast, sugar and oil in a bowl. Pour in water little by little while mixing.
  2. Combine and knead with your hands until a very smooth dough forms (see note 4).
  3. Cover the bowl with a damp tea towel and leave to rise in a warm place until doubled in size (It will take between 40 minutes to 1.5 hours depending on the room temperature).
Mix the filling
  1. Put pork, soy sauce, oyster sauce, salt and Sichuan pepper/Chinese five-spice in a mixing bowl.
  2. Swirl constantly while gradually adding water/stock until no more liquid can be seen.
  3. Brief stir fry grated carrot and onion in oil until softened. Add to the pork along with chopped coriander.
Shape the buns (Please refer to the video below)
  1. Knead the dough until it goes back to its original size.
  2. Divide it into 12 equal portions. Roll each piece into a disk-like wrapper.
  3. Place some filling in the middle of a wrapper then fold into a bao shape.
  4. Leave all the assembled buns to rest for another 15 minutes or so.
Steam the buns
  1. Place the buns (with parchment paper underneath each one) in the steamer basket (see note 5). Leave 2cm space between the buns and the side of the steamer.
  2. Start cooking with cold water over a high heat. Turn the heat down to medium-low when the water starts boiling.
  3. Cook for 15-18 minutes.
Serving with a dipping sauce
  1. Serve them warm, on their own or with some dipping sauce (find inspirations in my post Six dumpling sauces).
Storage & reheat
  1. You can freeze cooked buns. Leave to defrost in the fridge then steam for 8 minutes to warm up, or steam for 15 minutes without defrosting.

Notes

  • If you don’t have easy access to cake flour, you can mix 250g all purpose flour with 50g cornstarch. Sift before using.
  • Use cooking oil which doesn't have a strong taste, such as rapeseeds, sunflower, canola, vegetable, etc.
  • The flour water ratio may vary slightly depending on the brand of your flour. Please feel free to adjust.
  • You may use a stand mixer with a dough hook instead. Knead for 10 minutes or so on a low speed.
  • If you use a metal steamer, you also can brush a thin layer of oil before placing the bao buns.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1bun Calories 148kcal (7%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 12buns

Amount Per Serving

Calories 148

% Daily Value*

Serving 1bun
Calories 148kcal 7%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.