Steamed Soft Bao Buns Recipe
Soft and fluffy Bao Buns made from a simple yeast dough, steamed to perfection. These traditional Chinese buns are light, airy, and perfect for filling with savory or sweet ingredients.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Yield: 12 buns 1x
- Category: Bread
- Method: Steaming
- Cuisine: Chinese
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Dough Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 cup warm water (around 110°F / 43°C)
Instructions
- Activate the yeast: In a small bowl, combine the active dry yeast, sugar, and warm water. Stir gently and let it sit for 5-10 minutes until frothy and bubbly, indicating the yeast is active.
- Make the dough: In a large mixing bowl, add the flour. Pour the yeast mixture into the flour gradually while stirring to form a dough. Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 10 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic.
- First proof: Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover it with a damp cloth or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until it doubles in size.
- Shape the buns: Punch down the risen dough and divide it into equal pieces (approximately 12). Roll each piece into a smooth ball and then flatten slightly to form round buns.
- Second proof: Place the buns on parchment paper squares to prevent sticking, cover them with a cloth, and let them rise for another 30 minutes until puffed.
- Steam the buns: Arrange the buns with some space between them in a steamer basket lined with parchment or cabbage leaves to prevent sticking. Steam over boiling water for 12-15 minutes until the buns are soft and cooked through.
- Serve: Remove the buns carefully from the steamer. Serve warm as is or filled with your choice of savory or sweet fillings.
Notes
- Make sure water is warm, not hot, to avoid killing the yeast.
- Do not open the steamer during the steaming process to prevent buns from collapsing.
- You can freeze the uncooked shaped buns and steam them directly from frozen, adding extra steaming time.
- For fluffier buns, allow the dough to proof in a slightly warm, humid environment.
Keywords: bao buns, steamed buns, Chinese buns, yeast dough, fluffy buns
Find it online: https://recipeswithria.com/steamed-soft-bao-buns-recipe/
