Baked BBQ Pork Buns

One of the many foods, my husband has introduced me to, is BBQ Pork Buns. They are this pillow like sweet breads that contain this delicious, tangy, sweet and spicy bits of pork and onions that simply melt in your mouth. There are several Chinese bakeries, near my home, that make these delectable treats. I have a hard time walking by those bakeries, without stopping to purchase one. The best part, is that they are so inexpensive and on a cold day, warm your fingers, while walking.

I decided to try my hand at making these treats. There are two ways you can make these buns: Steaming or Baking. I decided to bake them because it was easier for me to make a large amount (plus, I love the browned color that comes with baking).

This recipe calls for three steps, before actually baking the buns. While none of the steps are difficult, I recommend you take at least two days, to make these. The first, is to make the Char Shu (BBQ Pork). A few days ago, I shared my recipe for Char Shu Pork. If you don’t care for pork, you can always substitute with chicken.  The second step is making the Char Shu Pork, into BBQ Pork filling. The last step, is to make the dough.  Well, if you are ready to go, here is the recipe.

 

 

 

Step 1 – Char Shu Pork:

Make about 2 cups worth of Char Shu Pork

(Recipe can be found here)

 

Step 2 – BBQ Pork Bun Filling :

4 teaspoons of oyster sauce

1 1/2 teaspoon of dark soy sauce

4 teaspoons of ketchup

1 tablespoon of sugar

Dash of pepper

6 tablespoons of chicken broth

1 teaspoon of sesame oil

1 small onion, minced

2 cups of Char Shu Pork, diced small

2 teaspoons of Mirin

Canola Oil

Directions For Filling:

1. Saute onions and sugar in canola oil, until golden brown
2. Add remaining ingredients
3. Cook until mixture has thickened

Step 3 – Dough:

3 teaspoons of active dry yeast

1/2 cup of sugar

2/3 cups of hot water (not boiling)

2 2/3 cup of all-purpose flour + extra

1 egg, beaten

1/2 cup of canola oil

Directions For Dough:

1. Combine all ingredients.
2. Add more flour until dough can be formed into a ball
3. Knead until dough is smooth and place in an oiled bowl
4. Cover and allow dough to rise for 2 hours.
5. After 2-3 hours, divide the dough into 16 pieces.

 

BBQ Pork Bun:

BBQ Pork Bun Filling

Dough

1 egg, beaten

Toasted sesame seeds (optional)

Directions for BBQ Pork Buns:

1. Grease a baking pan.
2. Flatten 1 piece of dough, in the  hands (do not make dough too thin)
3. Keeping dough in your hand, place about 1 tablespoon of filling in the center of the dough
4. Fold over the sides of the dough, to enclose the filling, sealing the edges
5. Place on baking pan, sealed side down
6. Continue with remaining 15 pieces of dough
7. Allow buns to rise for 1 – 1 1/2 hours
8. Preheat oven to 350  F
9. Brush each bun with beaten egg and sprinkle with sesame seeds
10. Bake for 15-20 minutes or golden brown

 

 

 

Serve as a snack or side dish. ENJOY!!!