Chinese Roast Pork Buns Recipes

CHINESE PORK BUNS (CHA SIU BAO)

Steps:

• Dissolve 1/4 cup sugar in 1 3/4 cups warm water, and then add the yeast. Let stand for 10 minutes, or until mixture is frothy. Sift the flour and baking powder into a large bowl. Stir in 2 tablespoons shortening and the yeast mixture; mix well.
• Knead the dough until smooth and elastic. Place the dough in a greased bowl, and cover it with a sheet of cling wrap. Let the dough rise in a warm place for about 2 hours, or until it has tripled in bulk.
• Cut the pork into 2 inch thick strips. Use fork to prick it all over. Marinate for 5 hours in a mixture made with 1 1/2 tablespoons light soy sauce, 1 1/2 tablespoons hoisin sauce, and 1 teaspoon sweet soy sauce. Grill the pork until cooked and charred. Cut roasted port into 1/2 inch cubes.
• Combine 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar, 1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce, oyster sauce, and 1 cup water in a saucepan. Bring to the boil. Mix cornstarch with 2 1/2 tablespoons water; add to the saucepan, and stir until thickened. Mix in 2 tablespoons lard or shortening, sesame oil, and white pepper. Cool, and mix in the roasted pork.
• Remove the dough from the bowl, and knead it on a lightly floured surface until it is smooth and elastic. Roll the dough into a long roll, and divide it into 24 pieces. Flatten each piece with the palm of the hand to form a thin circle. The center of the circle should be thicker than the edge. Place one portion of the pork filling in the center of each dough circle. Wrap the dough to enclose the filling. Pinch edges to form the bun. Let the buns stand for 10 minutes.
• Steam buns for 12 minutes. Serve.

CHINESE PORK BUNS

Steps:

• Combine 1/2 cup water, yeast, 2 teaspoons sugar, and 1 teaspoon cake flour in a large bowl; let stand until top is beginning to form a layer of white foam, about 20 minutes. Add remaining cake flour (2 cups minus the 1 teaspoon) and stir gently using chopsticks until dough comes together. Knead dough until smooth. Cover with plastic wrap and let first dough stand in a warm place for 4 to 6 hours.
• Mix 2/3 cup water, ginger, spring onion, oyster sauce, 1 tablespoon sugar, all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon corn flour, sesame oil, and white pepper in a saucepan over medium-low heat; cook, stirring constantly, until thickened, about 5 minutes. Cool filling to room temperature; refrigerate.
• Spoon chilled filling over pork; mix well.
• Sift 1/2 cup corn flour, 3/8 cup cake flour, and baking powder together into a bowl. Add 3/8 cup sugar and cooking oil and mix well. Mix corn flour mixture into first dough, kneading until smooth. Roll dough into a ball. Cover ball with an inverted bowl and let stand for 10 minutes.
• Divide dough into 12 to 15 pieces and roll each into a ball. Flatten the balls into rounds. Spoon 1 to 2 tablespoons filling into the center of each round and fold round around filling and seal. It's fine if the top is a bit thick, it just helps create the top flower look.
• Line bamboo steamers with parchment paper and arrange buns on top. Set aside in a warm place for 5 minutes. Close lids tightly.
• Bring 1 1/2 to 2 quarts water to a boil in a wok or large skillet for 10 minutes. Place steamers in the wok and steam buns over medium heat until cooked through, 12 to 15 minutes.

CHINESE ROAST PORK BUNS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F.
• Line broiler pan with foil.
• In blender container or food processor bowl with metal blade, combine all roast pork ingredients except pork; blend until smooth.
• Generously brush both sides of the pork steaks, reserving remaining basting sauce.
• Place pork steaks on foil-lined broiler pan.
• Bake at 375F for 30 minutes. Remove pork from oven.
• Brush both sides of steaks with remaining basting sauce.
• Bake an additional 10 to 20 minutes or until no longer pink in the center.
• Remove from oven; cool (leave the oven on).
• Remove meat from bone; finely chop. Set aside.
• In small bowl, combine cornstarch and 1 Tbsp sherry; blend well.
• Heat oil in wok or large skillet over high heat.
• Add onion and water chestnuts; cook and stir 2 to 3 minutes or until onion begins to brown.
• Add 1 Tbsp soy sauce and 1 Tbsp hoisin sauce; stir to coat. Add broth.
• Stir in cornstarch mixture; cook and stir until mixture begins to thicken. Remove from heat; stir in pork.
• Separate dough into 8 biscuits.
• On lightly floured surface, press or roll each biscuit into 5-inch circle.
• Place about 1/3 cup pork mixture in center of each biscuit.
• Gathering up edges, twist and pinch to seal.
• Place seam side down on ungreased cookie sheet.
• In small bowl, beat glaze ingredients until well blended; brush over buns.
• Bake at 375°F for 14 to 18 minutes or until golden brown.

BAKED PORK BUN (CHAR SIU BAO)

Steps:

• For the marinade: Mix the chicken base, soy sauce, sugar, food coloring, salt and pepper in a bowl. Cut pork in half horizontally to make two long, flat thin pieces (for better flavor penetration). Put the pork in a stainproof container or resealable plastic bag and pour in the marinade. Marinate 20 minutes in the fridge.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil and place a rack on top. Remove pork from the marinade and place on rack. Roast, about 45 minutes. Let pork rest for 10 minutes, then dice.
• For the dough: Meanwhile, combine the flour, sugar, butter, yeast, egg and 1/2 cup warm water in a mixing bowl and blend for 10 minutes. Let sit for 3 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Cut twelve 3-inch pieces of wax paper and set aside.
• Roll dough by hand into a cylinder with a 1 1/4-inch diameter. Cut into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ball and flatten into a 3-inch pancake.
• Add some pork to the center of a pancake, then fold the edges of the dough over the pork and bring together. Repeat with remaining pancakes and pork, placing completed buns on squares of wax paper.
• Place completed filled buns on waxed paper and brush tops with mayonnaise and condensed milk. Bake, about 15 minutes.

STEAMED PORK BUNS

Steps:

• Sift the flour.
• Add sugar, baking powder and lard.
• pour in water and knead until smooth.
• Cover with a damp teatowel and rest for 30 minutes.
• Saute the onions and pork briefly in the oil.
• Add water and seasonings and simmer until the sauce thickens.
• Spread this filling onto a plate to cool.
• Roll the dough into a long sausage shape and cut into twelve equal pieces.
• Roll each into a ball and flatten into a circle with your fingers.
• Place a spoonful of filling in the center and bring the dough up around it.
• Pinch the dough firmly to join it.
• Put each bun on a separate piece of parchment or wax paper.
• At this point the pastries can be frozen (IQF) by placing them on a tray in the freezer.
• Otherwise, brush each with a little water and set them in a steam basket.
• Steam over rapidly boiling water for 10 minutes.
• When steaming, do not crowd the pastries.
• If necessary steam them in batches.
• They can be rewarmed (once) carefully in the microwave.