**Explore the Delights of Steamed Pork Buns: A Culinary Journey into Flavor**
Indulge in the tantalizing world of steamed pork buns, a delectable treat that harmonizes the finest ingredients with the essence of culinary artistry. These pillowy-soft buns, also known as baozi or gua bao, are a cornerstone of many Asian cuisines, revered for their exquisite flavors and versatility. Join us on a gastronomic voyage as we delve into the secrets behind these culinary marvels, unveiling the magic of perfectly steamed buns complemented by a symphony of fillings and dipping sauces. Discover the art of crafting the perfect dough, mastering the techniques for shaping and steaming, and selecting the ideal fillings that burst with umami-rich goodness. Whether you prefer traditional pork belly or crave the innovation of vegetarian fillings, this article presents a treasure trove of recipes that cater to every palate. Prepare to embark on a culinary odyssey, where each bite of a steamed pork bun transports you to a realm of pure gustatory bliss.
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.
EASY PORK WITH HOISIN SAUCE
Steps:
- Trim excess fat and silverskin from tenderloin. Cut into 1-inch pieces, pat with paper towels, rub with some sesame oil, and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Place a medium skillet over medium high heat, add 1 tablespoon sesame oil. When oil shimmers, add pork and cook until browned and cooked partially, about 2 to 3 minutes per side.
- Remove pork to a plate, return skillet to stove, and add garlic. When garlic is fragrant, add green beans and stir occasionally until browned, about 3 minutes. Add sherry and hoisin, stir to combine, and cook until beans are tender and sauce is reduced slightly and sherry smell is cooked off, about 4 minutes. Return pork to pot, turn to coat in sauce, season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and green onions, if using, and serve over rice.
STEAMED PORK BELLY BUNS WITH HOISIN BALSAMIC
Steps:
- To make the pork belly: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
- Score the pork skin lengthwise, every half inch. Brush with the canola oil, tamarind and honey. Place the apples cut-side down in a roasting pan and place the pork on top. Add the apple juice to the bottom of the pan and braise until the meat is fork-tender, about 3 hours.
- To make the hoisin balsamic sauce: To a bowl, add the molasses, black bean paste, tamari, sesame oil, balsamic, chili paste and pepper and mix well. Set aside.
- To make the dough: Into a large bowl, add the water and yeast and set aside for 1 minute. Whisk in 2 tablespoons of the canola oil. To a food processor add the sugar, baking powder and salt with the flour and pulse 2 to 3 times to combine. Pour the yeast mixture into the processor in a steady stream and continue mixing for about 20 seconds. If the dough doesn't come together, add warm water a tablespoon at a time and continue to mix for 50 to 60 seconds. Coat a ceramic bowl with 1 tablespoon of the canola oil. Place the dough in the bowl and cover with plastic wrap and a tea towel. Let rise until nearly doubled, about 1 hour.
- Lightly dust a work surface with flour and roll the dough into a log. Cut the dough into 16 even parts. Roll each part into a ball, and then use your fingertips to flatten each ball into a 3-inch disc. Brush some canola oil on one half of each disc and fold over into a semicircle. Place the buns on parchment paper and place in a bamboo steamer over boiling water. Steam until the buns are puffed, 6 to 8 minutes.
- To finish the buns: Remove the skin from the pork and roughly chop. Slice the pork belly against the grain. Brush the steamed buns with the apple juice-braising liquid. Add some pork belly, and dress with cucumbers, green onions and hoisin balsamic sauce.
STEAMED PORK WONTON DUMPLINGS
Steps:
- In a large bowl mix pork, water chestnuts, scallions, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, egg, sesame dressing mix, and oyster sauce. Fill center of each wonton wrapper with 1 teaspoon of meat filling. Gather wrapper up and twist to secure sides. Brush the edges of the wontons with water to help seal. Arrange cabbage leaves on the bottom of a bamboo steamer. Place dumplings about 1-inch apart and steam until the filling is cooked through, about 20 minutes.
STEAMED PORK BAO BUNS
Steps:
- In a skillet, heat the oil and saute the scallions, garlic, and ginger over medium heat. Stir in the hoisin sauce and oyster sauce, adding barbecue pork while stirring. Reduce heat to low. Thoroughly combine cornstarch with 2 tablespoons water. Pour over pork mixture and stir until sauce thickens. Set aside. On a floured surface, partially separate breadsticks, leaving 2 thick layers of dough. Roll each into a ball. Working with 1 ball at a time, roll out to make a 3-inch circle. Place about 1 tablespoon of filling in center of each round. Gather dough up and twist to secure tightly. Repeat with remaining dough. Cover with kitchen towel. Arrange cabbage leaves on the bottom of 2 large bamboo steamers. Place 6 pork buns on each steamer. Steam buns for 20 minutes. Serve warm.
STEAMED BARBECUE PORK BUNS
You don't need much experience at all to make beautiful barbecue pork buns, aka. char siu bao. Instead of that mysterious, gelatinous red sauce that Chinese restaurants use, I filled these buns with regular barbecue pork for a more savory version. Regardless of what filling you choose, I hope this helps shape your technique.
Provided by Chef John
Categories Bread Yeast Bread Recipes Rolls and Buns
Time 3h40m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 10
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.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 149.9 calories, Carbohydrate 18.7 g, Cholesterol 23.3 mg, Fat 3.2 g, Fiber 0.9 g, Protein 10.7 g, SaturatedFat 0.7 g, Sodium 369.1 mg, Sugar 2.1 g
Tips:
- For the best results, use high-quality ground pork. Look for pork that is labeled "ground fresh" or "ground daily."
- Be sure to mix the pork filling thoroughly. This will help to distribute the flavors evenly.
- When steaming the pork buns, make sure that the water is boiling rapidly before you place the buns in the steamer. This will help to create a light and fluffy texture.
- Do not overfill the steamer. This will prevent the buns from cooking evenly.
- Serve the pork buns immediately with hoisin dipping sauce. The buns are best when they are fresh and hot.
Conclusion:
Steamed pork buns are a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. They are also a great way to use up leftover pork. With a little planning and effort, you can easily make these buns at home. So next time you are looking for a tasty and satisfying meal, give steamed pork buns a try.
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