Baked BBQ Pork Buns (Char Siu Bao)

1.Make the dough & 1st rise

2.Activate the yeast in warm milk

3.Add the dry ingredients

4.Form and knead the dough using a stand mixer, until you can stretch it into a very thin and translucent sheet

5.Pull the dough into a tight ball

6.Cover and let rest

7.The dough is ready when the size doubles

8.Make the char siu filing

9.Making the char siu filling is super simple.

10.Cook the sauce mixture until it thickens

11.Let the sauce cool, then mix in the chopped char siu

12.Form the dough balls

13.Now that your dough is rested and ready, it’s time to divide it into small dough balls for the buns.

14.Punch down the dough and knead a few times

15.Divide the dough into 12 even pieces. I prefer to use a scale to weigh each dough ball so the buns will be evenly sized

16.To form each dough ball, pull and pinch the edges of the dough to the top

17.Repeat until it forms a round ball

18.Pinch together the top to seal it

19.Use your hand to press and roll the dough ball until it’s round

20.Wrap and bake the BBQ pork buns

21.Press the dough ball into a flat, round shape (keep the center thicker than the edges, so the dough of the wrapped bun will be even)

22.Add the filling

23.Pull the dough into the center

24.Pinch and seal the top

25.Roll the formed bun again but more gently this time, so the filling won’t fall out

26.Brush the buns with the milk wash

27.Garnish with sesame seeds

28.Bake until golden brown

29.Make the dough

30.Pour the milk into a small bowl and warm it to approximately 100 to 110°F (38°C), about 30 seconds in the microwave. The milk should be warm, just a bit above body temperature.

31.Add the yeast and a pinch of the sugar to the warm milk. Let the yeast activate for 5 to 10 minutes, until the mixture is bubbling and frothy.

32.Add the remaining dough ingredients into your stand mixer bowl. Pour the activated yeast and milk over everything. Stir a few times with a spatula to make a rough dough. Knead with the hook attachment on setting 6 for 15 to 17 minutes, until the dough is smooth and stretchable. Test the dough by pulling a piece of it using both hands. It should stretch into a very thin and translucent sheet. (This dough can be kneaded by hand, but it is a wet dough, so having a dough scraper for the process will be very helpful. Knead it for 20 to 30 minutes in this case.)

33.While kneading the dough, grease the inside of a large bowl with a thin layer of butter or oil.

34.Pull the dough into a tight ball using your hands and place it into the greased bowl. Flip the dough ball a couple of times so that it is fully coated in the butter. Cover with plastic wrap. Let it proof until the size has doubled, about 1 hour in the winter, or 30 to 45 minutes in summer. (*Footnote 1)

35.Make the filling

36.While the dough is resting, combine all the filling ingredients in a small pot except for the diced char siu. Mix until the cornstarch is dissolved fully.

37.Bring the mixture to a boil and cook until thickened, so you can draw a line on the bottom of the pot with a spatula, about 1 minute. Take the pot off the heat and let the mixture cool off. Once cooled, add the diced char siu and mix until it is evenly distributed.

38.Shape the buns

39.Once the dough has doubled, punch it down using your hand and form it into a tight ball. Cut the ball into 12 even pieces (approximately 62 g per piece). Cover the pieces you aren’t working on with plastic wrap to prevent them from drying out.

40.One piece at a time, pull and pinch the edges of the dough to the top until the dough is round. Flip the piece so that the pinched part of the dough is on the work surface. Place your palm and fingers over the ball forming a domed cage, move the dough in small circular motions while applying light pressure to seal it.

41.Once all the pieces are formed, you can begin filling them. One at a time, use your palm to flatten the ball, then gently spread the edges until the dough has a 4 to 5” (10 to 13 cm) diameter. You should keep the center a bit thicker than the edges so the buns will be shaped evenly once wrapped.

42.Place a tablespoon of filling in the center. Gather the edges over the filling and pinch them together to seal it on top. Flip over the bun and roll it in the same circular motion as before to seal, but be gentle so the filling doesn’t tear through the dough. (If a piece of pork starts to poke out or looks like it’s about to you can pinch the dough over the trouble area and smooth it out with your finger.)

43.Place the buns on a parchment-lined baking tray, at least 1” (2.5 cm) apart, and cover them with plastic wrap. Let the buns rise until they grow 1.5 to 2x in size, about 30 to 45 minutes in winter, or 15 to 20 minutes in summer.

44.Preheat the oven to 350°F (176°C). (*Footnote 2)

45.Gently brush a thin layer of milk onto the top of each bun. Sprinkle with some sesame seeds to garnish, if using.

46.Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the buns are golden brown.

47.Let the buns rest until slightly cooled. Serve warm or at room temperature.

48.Store and reheat

49.Once the buns have fully cooled, you can place them in a large ziplock bag. It’s OK to leave the buns at room temperature for a day. Store them in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

50.To reheat the refrigerated buns, heat them in a microwave or a 350°F (176°C) oven until warmed throughout. For frozen buns, reheat them in a 350°F (176°C) oven without thawing until warmed throughout, 10 minutes or so.