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    Home » Our latest posts » Appetizers

    Easy Steamed Pork Buns are Perfect for New Year's or Anytime

    December 28, 2019 Filed Under: Appetizers, Holidays, Hot Appetizers, Main Courses with Meat, Pork, Sandwiches

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Easy Steamed Pork Buns: fluffy dough stuffed with flavorful pork and mushrooms with optional sausage and eggs. Perfect for Lunar New Year

    These Steamed Pork Buns are easy to make and are delicious anytime of year, especially for Lunar New Year.

    pork buns in a bamboo steamer with text overlay "steamed pork buns"

    This recipe came from a dear friend, Tola, who also gave me this amazing Asian Marinade recipe. I adjusted it a bit for my family's tastes and for my laziness to drive cross town to the Asian Market.

    There is no way my husband and son would go for the boiled egg inside. So, I made a few for me with egg, and left them out of the rest.

    Ingredients for Steamed Buns

    My friend uses a ready made mix for the bun dough. But, you probably need to get it at a specialty market since I didn't see it in the Asian Food Aisle of my supermarket. So, I used the recipe in Ming Tsai's Blue Ginger cookbook. Just basic flour, sugar, yeast, shortening.

    The shitake or wood ear fungus may be available fresh in the produce aisle, or you can check for dried in the Asian aisle. If using dried, be sure to soak before using.

    Some ground pork, onions, garlic, salt an pepper round out the filling list.

    I also couldn't find the Chinese sausage. So, I went with some linguica so I can make some Portuguese Beans with Linguica another day.

    Steamed Pork Buns

    pork buns in a bamboo steamer with text overlay "steamed pork buns"
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe

    Ingredients
     

    DOUGH

    • ¾ cups water
    • 2 tablespoons sugar
    • 2 ¼ teaspoons yeast (1 package)
    • 3 cups flour
    • 2 teaspoons lard or shortening (melted)

    FILLING

    • 1 pound ground pork
    • ⅓ cup wood ear fungus or shitake (finely chopped)
    • ⅕ cup onions (finely chopped)
    • 1 tablespoon garlic (finely chopped)
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon pepper

    BUNS

    • 3 boiled eggs (cut into quarters)
    • ¼ pound Chinese sausage (cut in 12 slices)

    Instructions
     

    dough

    • Add sugar and yeast to the warm water and let it sit for 5-10 minutes to get foamy on top (I use the measuring cup - one less thing to wash!). If it does not foam, your yeast is bad and the dough will not rise.
    • In a food processor combine flour, lard/shortening and yeast mixture. Blend until dough forms a ball.
    • On a floured board knead dough until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Divide dough into 12 balls.

    filling

    • Combine all filling ingredients. And divide into 12 portions.

    buns

    • Roll a ball of dough into a 2-3" circle with hands. Add one portion of pork filling, ¼ of an egg and a slice of sausage.
    • Pull dough edges to the top to surround the filling and pinch to close.
    • Place dough seam side down on a piece of parchment paper and place in a bamboo steamer with room for the buns to expand (about 4 per steamer tray). Repeat with all buns.
    • Cover with a towel and let rise until buns are doubled in size, about 1 hour.
    • Steam buns for 30 minutes.

    Until next time, happy eating
    ~Audrey

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Wendy @ Wholistic Woman

      January 26, 2016 at 5:31 am

      Looks delicious! If I don't have a steamer, is there an alternate way of cooking them?

      Reply
      • Audrey

        January 26, 2016 at 7:25 am

        Wendy, you had me stumped for a minute, until Google to the rescue.

        Instead of the inexpensive bamboo steamer I have (that I use for storing potatoes when I am not cooking with it), you can use:
        - a metal colander in a stock pot (if it fits)
        - or wad up 3 balls of aluminum foil and place in the bottom of your pot, add water to the bottom of the pot and place a heat proof plate on top of the foil then the buns (or tamales or vegetables) on top of the plate.

        For steaming all you need is water in the bottom of the pot, something for the food to rest on out of the water and then close it with a lid so the food steams and doesn't boil.

    2. Easy Peasy Life Matters

      January 26, 2016 at 6:29 am

      What a fun recipe for the Chinese New Year! And they sound so filling 🙂 Thanks so much for hosting!

      Reply
      • Audrey

        January 30, 2016 at 8:25 am

        I have been nibbling on them all week. YUMMY!

    3. Jean | DelightfulRepast.com

      January 29, 2016 at 8:49 am

      Audrey, I love Chinese steamed buns, and yours look lovely!

      Reply
      • Audrey

        January 30, 2016 at 8:19 am

        I was really pleased with my first attempt. I may need to make more this week.

    4. Jamie

      January 29, 2016 at 3:44 pm

      Those look so yummy - what a great treat! #HomeMattersParty

      Reply
      • Audrey

        January 30, 2016 at 8:18 am

        Thanks, Jamie.

    5. Jeanne Grunert

      February 01, 2016 at 12:46 pm

      This recipe looks fantastic! Pinning and saving it. Visiting as your fellow co-host from the #HomeMattersParty

      Reply
      • Audrey

        February 04, 2016 at 4:11 pm

        Thanks, Jeanne!

    6. Lisa/SyncopatedMama

      February 01, 2016 at 7:41 pm

      You know, Dim Sum buns like this always get me excited, but then disappoint me when I eat them because they always seem to be all doughy and empty. I never thought of making some myself, though - then I could pack them full of all sorts of goodies!

      Reply
      • Audrey

        February 04, 2016 at 4:11 pm

        I agree, I would definitely try to make them fuller next time.

    7. Karen

      December 28, 2019 at 10:26 am

      These look so perfect! Great shaping technique on the dough!

      Reply
    8. Amy (Savory Moments)

      December 29, 2019 at 4:53 am

      These look like they came from a restaurant! Perfect! I bet they are delicious, too.

      Reply
    9. Lisa Kerhin

      December 29, 2019 at 5:45 am

      Audrey, these look amazing! I love the tips you gave a reader for steaming them without the bamboo basket too!

      Reply
    10. Cheese Curd In Paradise

      December 29, 2019 at 6:05 am

      What a great bite for a New Year's party! My family would love these!

      Reply
    11. Colleen - Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck

      December 29, 2019 at 7:40 am

      These look so good! A great recipe to make on a weekend when I have a little extra time to spend in the kitchen!!!

      Reply
    12. ANNE LAWTON

      January 01, 2020 at 12:37 pm

      These look like the perfect little appetizer!

      Reply
    13. Ellen

      January 01, 2020 at 3:21 pm

      I've always wanted to do a Chinese New Year dinner with my kids. This will be perfect!

      Reply

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