Pork Steamed Buns Recipes

CHINESE STEAMED PORK BUNS

Steps:

• Yeast Activation: Place yeast, sugar and water in a small bowl. Mix, then set aside for 10 minutes until it becomes foamy.
• Place flour, cornflour and sugar in a stand mixer bowl fitted with a dough hook. Mix briefly to combine.
• Add yeast mixture, oil and water. Mix on low speed for 3 minutes until a smooth ball of dough forms. It should be soft and elastic, not so sticky it gets stuck all over your hands. Adjust with a touch of flour/water if required to get the dough consistency right.
• Cover with cling wrap and place in a warm dry place for 2 hours until it doubles in volume. (Note 3). Meanwhile, make Filling.
• Remove cling wrap, scatter over baking powder. Return to stand mixer and mix on low for 2 minutes.
• Turn dough out onto work surface, sprinkle with flour. Knead lightly to form a smooth round disc.
• Cut dough into 4 pieces. Take one piece, roll into an even log, cut into 3 pieces (so 12 pieces in total).
• Take one piece of dough, cover remaining with cling wrap or tea towel.
• Roll into round 4.5" / 11 cm in diameter, making the edges thinner.
• Place dough in hand, put 1 1/2 tbsp of Filling in the centre.
• Pinch 8 pleats around the edges. Then gather the pleats together one by one to seal the bun. Pinch the top the twist.
• Repeat with remaining dough - make 12 in total.
• Cover buns loosely with cling wrap and leave in a warm place for 15 minutes.
• Line a large bamboo steamer (or other steamer) with parchment paper punctured with holes (Note 4).
• Place 6 to 8 buns on paper, cover with steamer lid.
• Pour about 4 cm / 1 1/2 inches in a wok / pot (steamer should not touch water) and bring to rapid simmer over medium high.
• Place steamer in wok, then cook for 12 minutes. Check water halfway through, top up if required.
• Buns are ready when they spring back when touched, and the buns have formed a smooth skin.
• Remove steamer from wok, serve warm!
• Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add eschalots and cook for 2 minutes.
• Add sugar, soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil and water. Mix.
• While stirring, slowly pour cornflour mixture in. Mix until smooth.
• Stir in pork. Cook until sauce is thickened, 1 - 1 1/2 minutes (see video for consistency). Set aside to cool (thickens when cools).

STEAMED PORK BUNS

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast in water water in a bowl. Add milk, followed by butter and sugar; mix to combine. Add flour and mix to form a dough.
• Knead dough until a uniform ball emerges. Cover and allow to rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 30 minutes.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir ground pork with garlic, ginger, paste, salt, and pepper in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain and discard grease. Set aside.
• Place a steamer insert into a saucepan and fill with water to just below the bottom of the steamer. Bring water to a boil. Do not allow boiling water to boil through steamer surface.
• While water comes to a boil, divide dough into 16 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ball and flatten into a thin, wide circle with your hands and fingers.
• Place 1 tablespoon of prepared filling in the center of each circle of dough. Pull the sides of the dough together around the filling, gently pinching the top of the dough together to make a flower blossom gather at the top.
• Place about 8 buns onto the steamer surface and cover with lid. Cook until buns rise and expand, and are spongy to the touch, about 12 minutes. Repeat with remaining buns. Watch the hot steam! Remove buns from steamer surface with tongs carefully to avoid ripping; allow to cool slightly before eating.

STEAMED BARBECUE PORK BUNS

Steps:

• Pour water into a bowl. Sprinkle in yeast and let stand until yeast softens and begins to form a creamy foam, about 10 minutes. Add vegetable oil, sugar, and self-rising flour. Mix using a wooden spoon until a shaggy dough comes together.
• Turn dough out onto your counter and knead into a smooth ball, about 10 minutes. Transfer dough ball into a lightly oiled bowl. Flip to lightly coat. Cover and let rise in a warm spot until doubled in size, about 2 hours.
• Combine pork, green onions, cayenne pepper, sesame oil, and hoisin sauce in a separate bowl. Mix well and refrigerate.
• Add a couple inches of water to a Dutch oven and set a bamboo steamer on top.
• Poke dough down to deflate and transfer to a lightly floured surface. Cut dough in half and roll each half into a long tube. Divide each tube into 6 pieces. Roll each piece into a ball and press into a disk. Roll each disk until about 1/8-inch thick and 4 to 5 inches wide. Roll out edges so they are slightly thinner than the center.
• Transfer a spoonful of filling onto the center of each dough circle. Pinch edges together to form multiple small pleats, moistening edges with water if needed. Squeeze pleats together at the top to seal in the filling. Place pork buns on individual squares of parchment paper. Transfer them to the cold steamer, cover, and let proof until noticeably puffed, 30 to 45 minutes.
• Bring the water in the Dutch oven to a boil over high heat. Set timer for 10 minutes. Turn off heat and leave buns covered for 15 minutes. Uncover and transfer to plate.

EILEEN YIN-FEI LO'S STEAMED PORK BUNS

Steps:

• Making the filling: In a small bowl, combine chicken stock, oyster sauce, sugar, tapioca starch, ketchup, soy sauce, and white pepper; set aside.
• Heat a wok over high heat for 40 seconds and add oil. Coat wok with oil using a spatula. When a wisp of white smoke appears, add onion. Lower heat to medium, and cook until onion turns light brown, about 2 minutes. Raise heat to high, add pork, and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add wine, and stir to combine.
• Stir the reserved stock mixture and add it to the wok. Cook, stirring, until the sauce thickens and turns brown, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. Add sesame oil, and stir to combine. Transfer to a shallow dish. Cool to room temperature. Refrigerate uncovered, for at least 4 hours or up to overnight.
• Making the dough: On a clean work surface, combine flour, sugar, and baking powder. Make a well in the center, add milk gradually, and combine flour mixture with fingers. When milk is absorbed, add 3 tablespoons water, and work dough with fingers. Add lard, and continue to work dough with fingers. Using a dough scraper, gather dough in one hand and knead it with the other. Knead until dough is smooth and elastic, 12 to 15 minutes. (If dough is dry, add 1 teaspoon water at a time and continue to knead. If dough is wet, sprinkle a bit of flour on work surface and on hands and continue working it.) When dough is elastic (it will bounce back if you poke it lightly), cover with plastic wrap and let rest 1 hour.
• Prepare the buns: Cut sixteen 2 1/2-inch squares of parchment or waxed paper. Bring a pan of water to a boil. Roll dough into a cylinder 16 inches long. Cut into 1-inch pieces. Roll each piece into a ball. Work with one piece at a time; cover those not being used with a piece of plastic wrap. Press down lightly on a ball of dough; then, with fingers, press a well into the center. Place 1 tablespoon filling into the well, and pleat the dough with fingers until filling is completely enclosed. Repeat for all 16.
• Place buns on parchment squares, and place in steamer at least 2 inches apart to permit expansion. Cover steamer. Place over boiling water, and steam until dough is fluffy and dry and filling is hot, 12 to 20 minutes. Remove buns from steamer, and repeat with remaining buns. Serve warm.

PORK STEAMED BUNS

Steps:

• For the filling:
• Put the rack of spareribs into a large resealable plastic bag. Pour in the hoisin sauce, close the bag and toss gently to coat. Put the bag into a bowl and marinate the ribs in the refrigerator for 3 hours or up to overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
• Put the ribs into a sheet pan along with all the marinade. Cover the pan with aluminum foil, slide it into the oven and bake until the meat easily separates from the bone, about 2 hours. Baste them every 30 minutes during the cooking process. Remove the ribs from the oven and let them rest.
• When cool enough to handle, pull the rib meat from the bones and coarsely chop. Then, in a large bowl, toss the pork together with the cabbage and scallions. If the mixture seems too dry, add in a bit more hoisin sauce.
• For the dough:
• Sprinkle the yeast over the warm water in a small bowl. After a few minutes, the yeast will begin to foam and bubble.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and baking powder. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the warm milk, canola oil, and the activated yeast. Work the dough to produce a shaggy mass. Turn it out onto a floured board or countertop and knead until the dough becomes smooth, soft, and pliable, about 5 to 10 minutes. Put it into a lightly oiled bowl and turn it over once to coat. Cover the bowl in plastic wrap and allow the dough to rise undisturbed for 40 minutes to 1 hour. The mass should double in volume.
• For the assembly:
• To form the buns, remove the dough from the bowl and roll it into 1 long rope. Cut the rope into 12 equal portions. Roll each piece and set them aside in a bowl. Using a rolling pin, flatten each ball into 4-inch circles, leaving the center slightly thicker then its edges. Put a heaping tablespoon of the filling into the center of each disk and pinch the tops closed to seal.
• Arrange the buns on a parchment lined sheet tray and cover them with a clean kitchen towel. Alternatively, place the buns into a large 3-level bamboo steamer lined with parchment paper, 4 buns per level. Allow the buns to rest for 10 minutes.
• In the meantime, fill a bamboo or stainless steel steamer with water and bring it to a boil. Cut 12 (4-inch) rounds from some parchment paper. When ready to cook, place the buns on the parchment rounds and into the steamer.

STEAMED PORK AND SHRIMP BUNS

Steps:

• Dissolve sugar, butter, yeast, and salt into the warm water and milk. Stir in as much flour as you can until you get smooth, elastic dough. If the dough is sticky, add more flour. If the loaf is too dry, add more milk and knead until it's the right consistency; smooth and elastic. Let rest until doubled in size, 30 to 60 minutes.
• While dough rests, mince the water chestnuts, shrimp, and green onions.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir pork in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Add barbecue sauce, shrimp, water chestnuts, and green onions; saute until heated through, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Take a handful of dough and flatten it in your hand. Add a spoonful of the filling and seal the dough around the filling by pressing with your fingers, making sure you have a nice, round bun. Set the bun on the counter as you continue making buns. Allow buns to rise for 20 minutes.
• Place a steamer insert into a saucepan and fill with water to just below the bottom of the steamer. Bring water to a boil. Add buns in batches, about 1 inch apart; cover, and steam until cooked through, about 20 minutes. Serve hot.

VEGETABLE AND PORK STEAMED BUNS

Steps:

• To make the filling, in a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, oyster sauce, sugar, salt, white pepper, and water and stir to dissolve the sugar. Set this flavoring sauce aside. In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté for 1 to 2 minutes, or until soft and fragrant. Add the pork, breaking it into small pieces, and cook and stir for about 2 minutes, or until half done. Add the mushrooms, cabbage, carrot, and peas, stir to combine, and then pour in the flavoring sauce. Sauté for 5 to 6 minutes, or until the vegetables are cooked and only a little liquid remains. Add the Chinese sausage and Char Siu Pork and stir to combine. Add the cornstarch and stir for 1 minute to bind the filling. Transfer to a bowl and set aside, uncovered, to cool completely.
• To make the dough, in a bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, and baking powder. Make a well in the center, pour the oil and milk into the well, and use a rubber spatula to stir the ingredients to form a soft, ragged mass. Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and knead for 1 to 2 minutes, or until it is a relatively smooth, yet slightly sticky ball. Transfer to a lightly oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let rest for 1 hour.
• Fill the steamer pan halfway with water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Lower the heat until you are ready to steam.
• Have ready sixteen 3-inch squares of parchment paper. Remove the dough from the bowl, cut it in half, and then re-cover one-half with the inverted bowl while you work with other half. On your work surface, shape the dough into a log and cut into 8 equal pieces. Loosely cover 7 of the pieces with a dish towel to prevent drying. To make a bun, place a piece of dough, cut side down, on a lightly floured work surface and shape it into a disk. Imagine a quarter-sized circle in the center, what the Chinese call the belly of the wrapper. You want to roll out the disk into a flat, round wrapper that retains a thick belly, so that there won't be more dough on the bottom of the bun than on the top. With this in mind, start rolling out the disk from the center to the rim, keeping the belly 1/4 inch thick. (An Asian-style rolling pin, which is essentially a 1-inch wooden dowel, is ideal for this job.) Lift and rotate the dough frequently to make sure it doesn't stick to your work surface. Aim for a wrapper about 5 inches in diameter and 1/8 inch thick at the edge.
• Pick up the wrapper and hold it in a slightly cupped hand. Use your free hand to spoon a heaping tablespoon of the filling into the center of the wrapper. Gently press on the filling with the back of the spoon to create a well. Add a wedge of egg, curved white side up. Mound another tablespoon of filling on top. The wrapper will seem very full; your cupped hand should naturally close a little more to keep the bun's shape.
• To enclose the filling, use your free hand to pleat the rim of the wrapper. Pick up the rim of the dough circle between the tips of your thumb and index finger, stretching it a bit and pinching the dough together to form 1/4- to 1/2-inch pleats. Keep gathering and pleating the rim in an accordion pattern. As you pleat, use the thumb of your cupped hand to tuck the filling inside the wrapper. After you have pleated all around the rim, there will be a small fluted hole at the top. Twist and pinch it closed; if there is an excessive amount of dough, pinch some off and discard. Place the bun, pleated side down, on a parchment square. Repeat with the other dough pieces. Then cut and shape the remaining half of the dough for 8 more buns. Place as many buns in the steamer trays as possible, spaced 1 inch apart and 1 inch away from the edge where condensation collects. Leave the remaining buns out, covered, until a tray is available.
• Return the water in the steamer pan to a rolling boil. Loosely cover 1 of the filled trays with parchment or waxed paper to prevent drying. Place the other tray in the steamer, cover, and steam the buns for 20 minutes, or until they have puffed up and look dry. Turn off the heat and wait for the steam to subside before lifting the lid, and then lift it away from you carefully to avoid condensation dripping onto the buns. Remove the tray and use a metal spatula to transfer the buns, on the parchment, to a wire rack to cool for 5 minutes. Steam the second tray the same way. Put the remaining buns in the empty tray and repeat.
• Arrange the buns, still on the parchment, on a platter and serve. Remove the parchment before eating the buns out of hand.