Daves Steamed Pork Buns Chai Bau Recipes

STEAMED BBQ PORK BUNS (CHAR SIU BAO)

Steps:

• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment (you can also just use a regular mixing bowl and knead by hand), dissolve the yeast in the warm water. Sift together the flour and cornstarch, and add it to the yeast mixture along with the sugar and oil. Turn on the mixer to the lowest setting and let it go until a smooth dough ball is formed. Cover with a damp cloth and let it rest for 2 hours. (I haven't forgotten about the baking powder. You'll add that later!)
• While the dough is resting, make the meat filling. Heat the oil in a wok over medium high heat. Add the onion and stir-fry for a minute. Turn heat down to medium-low, and add the sugar, soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, and dark soy. Stir and cook until the mixture starts to bubble up. Add the chicken stock and flour, cooking for a couple minutes until thickened. Remove from the heat and stir in the roast pork. Set aside to cool. If you make the filling ahead of time, cover and refrigerate to prevent it from drying out.
• After your dough has rested for 2 hours, add the baking powder to the dough and turn the mixer on to the lowest setting. At this point, if the dough looks dry or you're having trouble incorporating the baking powder, add 1-2 teaspoons water. Gently knead the dough until it becomes smooth again. Cover with a damp cloth and let it rest for another 15 minutes. In the meantime, get a large piece of parchment paper and cut it into ten 4x4 inch squares. Prepare your steamer by bringing the water to a boil.
• Now we are ready to assemble the buns: roll the dough into a long tube and divide it into 10 equal pieces. Press each piece of dough into a disc about 4 1/2 inches in diameter (it should be thicker in the center and thinner around the edges). Add some filling and pleat the buns until they're closed on top.
• Place each bun on a parchment paper square, and steam. I steamed the buns in two separate batches using a bamboo steamer (be sure the boiling water does not touch the buns during steaming process). Once the water boils, place the buns in the steamer and steam each batch for 12 minutes over high heat.

DAVE'S STEAMED PORK BUNS (CHAI BAU)

Steps:

• Dough:Dissolve sugar in warm water. Sift the flour into a large mixing bowl, making a well in the center of the flour and pour the baking powder in the well. Gradually pour in the water solution, stirring until all the ingredients are well combined. Knead with lard, adding a little at a time, into the dough until smooth and elastic. Cover and set aside. Filling:Put the cut up pork in a large bowl and season with garlic, ginger, 2 tsp. sugar, and 2 Tbs. soy sauce. Mix well and set aside. In a small bowl, combine 2 tsp. sugar, cornstarch, 2 Tbs. soy sauce, sherry and water. Stir well to make a slurry and set aside. Meanwhile, heat a 12" Dutch oven or wok over high heat, add oil and heat until starting to smoke. Stir fry pork mixture until browned, about 5 minutes. Add onion and stir fry 2 more minutes until onions are limp. Stir in cornstarch mixture and cook until thickened and bubbly. Cool mixture to room temperature or refrigerate to chill. Set aside. Divide the dough and filling into 24 equal portions. Flatten each portion of dough and roll into a 4" circle, leaving the center twice as thick as the edges. With your left hand, cup one circle of dough and place 1 portion of the filling in the center, pressing the filling down with the left thumb. With your right thumb and index finger, gather and pleat the edges of the dough up around the filling in loose folds, meeting at the top. Twist the top of the dough to firmly seal. Place on a piece of parchment paper, twisted side up. Arrange buns on a cake rack in a 12" Dutch oven or the bottom rack of a Camp Chef UDO14 (Ultimate Dutch oven) then the top rack. Let rise 10 to 15 minutes. Carefully pour 1 cup hot water into Dutch oven, not getting water on the buns. Cover and simmer over medium heat until water is evaporated or 10 to 15 minutes. Serve hot.

DAVE'S STEAMED PORK BUNS (CHAI BAU)

Steps:

• DOUGH:Dissolve sugar in warm water. Sift the flour into a large mixing bowl, making a well in the center of the flour and pour the baking powder in the well. Gradually pour in the water solution, stirring until all the ingredients are well combined. Knead with lard, adding a little at a time, into the dough until smooth and elastic. Cover and set aside.FILLING:Put the cut up pork in a large bowl and season with garlic, ginger, 2 tsp. sugar, and 2 Tbs. soy sauce. Mix well and set aside. In a small bowl, combine 2 tsp. sugar, cornstarch, 2 Tbs. soy sauce, sherry and water. Stir well to make a slurry and set aside. Meanwhile, heat a 12-inch Dutch oven or wok over high heat, add oil and heat until starting to smoke. Stir fry pork mixture until browned, about 5 minutes. Add onion and stir fry 2 more minutes until onions are limp. Stir in cornstarch mixture and cook until thickened and bubbly. Cool mixture to room temperature or refrigerate to chill. Set aside.Divide the dough and filling into 24 equal portions. Flatten each portion of dough and roll into a 4-inch circle, leaving the center twice as thick as the edges. With your left hand, cup one circle of dough and place 1 portion of the filling in the center, pressing the filling down with the left thumb. With your right thumb and index finger, gather and pleat the edges of the dough up around the filling in loose folds, meeting at the top. Twist the top of the dough to firmly seal. Place on a piece of parchment paper, twisted side up.Arrange buns on a cake rack in a 12-inch Dutch oven or the bottom rack of a Camp Chef UDO14 (Ultimate Dutch oven) then the top rack. Let rise 10 to 15 minutes. Carefully pour 1 cup hot water into Dutch oven, not getting water on the buns. Cover and simmer over medium heat until water is evaporated or 10 to 15 minutes. Serve hot