Char Siu Bao (Steamed BBQ Pork Buns)

Name: Char Siu Bao (Steamed BBQ Pork Buns)
Prep time: 1 h
Cook time: 24 min
Total time: 1 h 24 min
Cuisine: Asian, Chinese
Ingredients: 1 package active dry yeast (21 g); 3/4 cup water (178 g); 2 cups all purpose flour (240 g); 1/2 cup corn starch (60 g); 1 tbsp baking powder (12 g); 5 tbsp granulated sugar (64 g); 2 tbsp vegetable oil (20 g); 2 shallots (~1/3 cup); 1/4 tsp salt; 1 tbsp granulated sugar; 1 tbsp light soy sauce; 1 tsp dark soy sauce; 1 tbsp oyster sauce; 1 tsp sesame oil; 1/2 cup chicken broth; 1 tbsp corn starch; 1 tbsp water; 1 1/2 cups char siu (minced); 1 tsp white vinegar (for steaming)

Instructions

Prep:1hCook:24min

Char Siu Bao or Chinese BBQ Pork Buns are something I've had since I was a kid. They are fluffy, unbelievably tasty, and can be eaten at every meal. In this blog post, I break down how to make this yummy Chinese pastry at home from how to get the fluffiest bao texture to comparing which steamer is the best one to use. (Yes I tested both!)

Updated at: Thu, 03 Apr 2025 19:59:59 GMT