Chinese Pork Buns (Cha Siu Bao)

Serves: 4

Eda Schinner

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

56

Spice

42

Sweetness

57

Sourness

44

mins

Prep time (avg)

5.1

Difficulty

Ingredients:

1.5 tbsps

White Sugar

2.5 tbsps

Water

1 tbsp

Baking Powder

2 tbsps

Shortening

1.5 tbsps

Light Soy Sauce

1.5 tbsps

Hoisin Sauce

1.5 tbsps

Soy Sauce

1.5 tbsps

Oyster Sauce

2 tbsps

Cornstarch

1.5 tsps

Sesame Oil

Directions:

1

Dissolve 1/4 cup sugar in 1 3/4 cups warm water, and then add the yeast

2

Let stand for 10 minutes, or until mixture is frothy

3

Sift the flour and baking powder into a large bowl

4

Stir in 2 tablespoons shortening and the yeast mixture; mix well

5

Knead the dough until smooth and elastic

6

Place the dough in a greased bowl, and cover it with a sheet of cling wrap

7

Let the dough rise in a warm place for about 2 hours, or until it has tripled in bulk

8

Cut the pork into 2 inch thick strips

9

Use fork to prick it all over

10

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

11

Grill the pork until cooked and charred

12

Cut roasted port into 1/2 inch cubes

13

Combine 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar, 1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce, oyster sauce, and 1 cup water in a saucepan

14

Bring to the boil

15

Mix cornstarch with 2 1/2 tablespoons water; add to the saucepan, and stir until thickened

16

Mix in 2 tablespoons lard or shortening, sesame oil, and white pepper

17

Cool, and mix in the roasted pork

18

Remove the dough from the bowl, and knead it on a lightly floured surface until it is smooth and elastic

19

Roll the dough into a long roll, and divide it into 24 pieces

20

Flatten each piece with the palm of the hand to form a thin circle

21

The center of the circle should be thicker than the edge

22

Place one portion of the pork filling in the center of each dough circle

23

Wrap the dough to enclose the filling

24

Pinch edges to form the bun

25

Let the buns stand for 10 minutes

26

Steam buns for 12 minutes

27

Serve