Savory Sweet Barbecue Pork Buns (Cha Siu Bao)
Savory Sweet Barbecue Pork Buns, known as Cha Siu Bao, are a delightful Chinese delicacy featuring fluffy, steamed buns filled with a rich and flavorful mixture of barbecued pork, mushrooms, and aromatic sauces. These buns hold a special place in my heart as they were introduced to me by my fiancée, who cherishes them dearly. This composite recipe combines the best elements from several traditional recipes, ensuring a perfect balance of sweetness and umami in every bite. Although they require careful preparation and some rising time, the results are crowns of culinary comfort that are perfect for special occasions, family gatherings, or simply when you want to indulge in a homemade treat. Each bite transports you to a bustling dim sum restaurant, filled with authentic flavors and texture. Dive into the joy of preparing and enjoying these delightful buns with loved ones!
8
Servings
320
Calories
16
Ingredients
Ingredients
cooked char siu pork
10 ounces (finely chopped)
mushrooms
4 tablespoons (chopped)
water
1/3 cup (for filling + 4 tablespoons for dough)
cornstarch
3 teaspoons (for thickening filling)
salt
1/4 teaspoon (for filling + 1/2 teaspoon for dough)
soy sauce
2 teaspoons (for seasoning filling)
sesame oil
1 teaspoon (for seasoning filling)
hoisin sauce
1 teaspoon (for seasoning filling)
sugar
1 teaspoon (for filling + 1 tablespoon for yeast mixture)
red food coloring
to desired brightness (optional for filling color)
canola oil
2 teaspoons (for sautéing garlic)
garlic cloves
2 (crushed)
yeast
1 tablespoon (for dough)
milk
10 tablespoons (for dough)
oil
1 tablespoon (for dough)
flour
3 cups (for dough)
Instructions
1
Begin by preparing the filling: Chop the cooked char siu pork and mushrooms finely and set aside.
2
In a mixing bowl, combine the cornstarch with 1/3 cup water, mixing until smooth. Stir this mixture into the chopped char siu and mushrooms.
3
Add the salt, soy sauce, sesame oil, hoisin sauce, sugar, and a few drops of red food coloring to give the filling a vibrant hue. Mix well until all the ingredients are combined.
4
Heat 2 teaspoons of canola oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the crushed garlic cloves and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
5
Add the prepared filling mixture to the pan and cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture thickens, about 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
6
To prepare the dough, dissolve the yeast and 1 tablespoon of sugar in 4 tablespoons of warm water. Allow it to sit until frothy, around 5 minutes.
7
In a large bowl, combine the remaining water, 10 tablespoons of milk, and 1 tablespoon of oil. Stir in 3 cups of flour and 1/2 teaspoon of salt until a dough starts to form.
8
Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for about 5-10 minutes, or until it becomes smooth and elastic.
9
Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces and shape each into a ball. Flatten each ball slightly and press a cavity into the center to form a cup about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick.
10
Spoon 1/8 of the cooled filling mixture into each dough cup, then pinch the edges closed to seal the bao tightly.
11
Cut squares of wax paper (4-5 inches) and place each bao on a square, ensuring that the sealed side is facing down.
12
Arrange the bao in a steamer basket, leaving enough room for them to expand during steaming. Cover the basket and let them rise for 1.5 hours, or until doubled in size.
13
Once risen, bring a pot of water to a boil under the steamer. Steam the bao for about 10 minutes, until they are fluffy and cooked through.
14
Serve warm and enjoy the deliciously tender buns filled with savory barbecue pork!
Nutrition Information
7.5g
Fat
50g
Carbs
13g
Protein
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Savory Sweet Barbecue Pork Buns?
Known as Cha Siu Bao, they are a traditional Chinese delicacy featuring fluffy, steamed buns filled with a rich mixture of barbecued pork, mushrooms, and aromatic sauces.
How many servings does this recipe provide?
This recipe makes 8 servings, with each serving consisting of one bun.
How many calories are in one bun?
Each bun contains approximately 320 calories.
What are the main ingredients for the filling?
The filling consists of finely chopped char siu pork, mushrooms, garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil, hoisin sauce, sugar, and cornstarch for thickening.
How should the char siu pork be prepared?
The cooked char siu pork should be finely chopped before being mixed with other filling ingredients.
How long does the dough need to rise?
The buns need to rise in a steamer basket for approximately 1.5 hours, or until they have doubled in size.
How long should the buns be steamed?
Once the water is boiling, steam the bao for about 10 minutes until they are fluffy and cooked through.
What is the protein content per bun?
Each bun provides 13 grams of protein.
What type of flour is used for the dough?
The recipe calls for 3 cups of flour to prepare the bao dough.
How is the filling thickened?
A mixture of 3 teaspoons of cornstarch and 1/3 cup of water is stirred into the filling and cooked until it thickens.
Can I add food coloring to the filling?
Yes, you can add a few drops of red food coloring to the filling to give it a vibrant, traditional hue.
How much milk is required for the dough?
The dough recipe uses 10 tablespoons of milk.
What is the purpose of yeast in this recipe?
Yeast is used to make the dough rise, creating the signature fluffy texture of the buns.
How long should I knead the dough?
Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for about 5 to 10 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic.
What aromatic is used to flavor the filling?
Two crushed garlic cloves are sautéed in canola oil to provide a fragrant base for the filling.
How do I prevent the buns from sticking to the steamer?
Place each bun on a square of wax paper (4-5 inches) before arranging them in the steamer basket.
How thick should the dough cups be before filling?
When shaping the dough, press a cavity into the center to form a cup that is between 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick.
How much fat is in each bun?
There are 7.5 grams of fat in each serving.
What are the total carbohydrates per serving?
Each bun contains 50 grams of carbohydrates.
Is sugar used in the dough?
Yes, 1 tablespoon of sugar is dissolved with the yeast in warm water to help activate it.
How do you seal the buns?
Spoon the filling into the dough cup and then pinch the edges closed to seal the bao tightly.
Should the filling be hot or cold when added to the dough?
The filling mixture should be removed from heat and allowed to cool before being spooned into the dough.
How is the yeast activated?
Dissolve 1 tablespoon of yeast and 1 tablespoon of sugar in 4 tablespoons of warm water and let it sit for 5 minutes until frothy.
What oil is used for the dough?
The dough requires 1 tablespoon of oil.
Which side of the bun should face down during steaming?
Place the bao on the wax paper with the sealed side facing down.
How many mushrooms are included in the recipe?
The recipe uses 4 tablespoons of chopped mushrooms.
How much sesame oil is used for seasoning?
The filling is seasoned with 1 teaspoon of sesame oil.
What type of oil is used to sauté the garlic?
The recipe specifies using 2 teaspoons of canola oil for sautéing the garlic.
Is salt added to the dough?
Yes, 1/2 teaspoon of salt is mixed into the dough along with the flour.
What is the best way to serve Cha Siu Bao?
These buns are best served warm to enjoy their tender texture and savory filling.