Steamed Pork Buns

Steamed Pork Buns are a soft and fluffy steamed bun that is filled with a sweet pork filling. These steamed pork buns are just like the ones you get at all your favorite restaurants, but better.

Steamed Pork Buns

Steamed pork buns are one of my favorite things to get when we go out to dinner. They are light and fluffy and filled with a sweet filling that is just decadent. It is one of those things that you will find yourself craving from time to time. When that happens, I always pull out this recipe and make steamed pork buns for dinner.

While this recipe is not quick, it is 10000% worth the time and effort that it takes to create these.

Are steamed buns and bao buns the same?

Yes! Bao Buns and steamed Buns are the same. They are warm and fluffy buns that are filled with stuffing, in this case, pork.

How to Make Steamed Pork Buns

Start by dicing your onion and mincing your garlic finely. Set aside for later.
Make your dough. In a medium bowl, sift your flour.
Then add your water, sugar, vegetable oil, baking powder and yeast to the bowl of flour. 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 your dough with a wet towel and let it rise for about 20-30 minutes.

While your dough is rising, make your filling.
Add a pan to the stove and bring to medium high heat. Add your vegetable oil and let it get hot. Then add your diced onions and minced garlic. Sauté for about 2-3 minutes. Then reduce to medium heat.
Add your hoisin sauce, soy sauce, oyster sauce, granulated sugar, sesame oil, salt, water and cornstarch to the pan and let it simmer for about 2 minutes, until the mixture has thickened.
Then add your ground pork to the pan and 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 off.

Return to your dough. Sprinkle some flour to your worktable and put your risen dough on there.
Fold and flatten with a rolling pin a few times until you have a long rectangle. Then roll up your dough and cut into 16 even pieces.

Using your rolling pin, roll out each individual piece of dough until you have a 3 inch circle.
Put 1-2 tablespoons of filling on your dough and start folding the edges towards each other, all the way around until you’ve closed your bun.

Put parchment paper in your bamboo steamer (you can also use a regular steam pan) and place the buns in your steamer. Make sure not to overcrowd them and leave about 1 inch of space between them.

Add about ¼ inch water to a pan and bring to a boil. Then place your bamboo steamer in the pan and let it steam for about 12-14 minutes. Make sure there is always water in your pan. You can add a little more if all the water has reduced.

Remove from the steamer and enjoy while warm!

Tips Tricks and FAQs

Keep an eye on the water level while your Steamed pork buns are steaming. If the water gets low add some more. You don’t want to run out of water.
Be sure you seal your pork buns well and give it a good twist to seal them together.
Leave 1 inch of space in between your pork buns while they are steaming.

Storage

If you have any leftovers, you will want to store them in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Can you freeze Steamed Pork buns?

Yes, you can freeze your steamed pork buns. Let your buns cool and then place them on a lined baking tray to flash freeze. Once frozen, place your steamed buns in a freezer-safe container and pull out one at a time to enjoy.

How do you reheat a frozen Steamed Pork Bun?

To reheat your frozen steamed pork bun, you will want to cover it with a damp paper towel for 1 -1 ½ minutes until it is really hot. It will taste as it does right out of the steamer.