Banh Bao Vietnamese Steamed Buns (Printer-Friendly)
Soft, pillowy steamed buns with savory pork and mushroom filling. A beloved Vietnamese comfort food.
# What You'll Need:
→ Dough
01 - 3.5 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 tablespoons sugar
03 - 1 teaspoon instant yeast
04 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
05 - 3/4 cup warm milk
06 - 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
07 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
→ Filling
08 - 10.5 ounces ground pork
09 - 2 Chinese sausages (lap xuong), thinly sliced
10 - 4 dried shiitake mushrooms, soaked and finely chopped
11 - 1 small onion, finely diced
12 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
13 - 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
14 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce
15 - 1 teaspoon sugar
16 - 1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper
17 - 2 hard-boiled eggs, quartered
18 - 1 spring onion, chopped
# How to Make It:
01 - Combine flour, sugar, instant yeast, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Pour in warm milk and vegetable oil. Knead the mixture for 8 to 10 minutes until the dough becomes smooth and elastic. Cover the bowl and allow the dough to rise for 1 hour or until doubled in volume.
02 - Mix ground pork, Chinese sausage, shiitake mushrooms, onion, garlic, oyster sauce, soy sauce, sugar, white pepper, and spring onion in a bowl. Stir thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly combined.
03 - Divide the risen dough into 8 equal portions. Roll each piece into a ball, then flatten into a disc approximately 4 inches in diameter. Place a spoonful of filling and a quarter of hard-boiled egg in the center. Gather the edges and pinch to seal, shaping into a round bun.
04 - Set each bun on a small square of parchment paper. Let the shaped buns rest for 15 minutes while preparing the steamer.
05 - Arrange buns in the steamer over boiling water. Steam for 15 to 20 minutes until the dough is fully cooked and fluffy throughout. Serve warm.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- These buns freeze beautifully so you can always have homemade comfort food ready in minutes
- The combination of fluffy dough and savory filling is incredibly satisfying and adaptable
02 -
- Add a splash of vinegar to your steaming water for the whitest, most beautiful buns
- Don't skip the resting period after shaping or your buns might be dense instead of fluffy
03 -
- Small parchment squares prevent sticking and make handling hot buns much easier
- Steam buns in batches if your steamer is crowded rather than overcrowding