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steamed bao buns

STEAMED BAO BUNS

Gari
I was looking forward to sharing this incredible recipe of Bao Buns with you guys. Bao Buns are soft & fluffy steamed buns that do not only look cute but are also an impressive party food.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Resting Time: 1 hr 30 mins
Total Time 1 hr 50 mins
Course Breakfast
Cuisine Chinese
Servings 20 buns
Calories 98 kcal

Equipment

Instant Pot
Stand Mixer
Rolling Pin

Ingredients
  

BAO BUNS FILLING

Layering:

  • 4-5 Bao Buns
  • Salad

Instructions
 

  • First add mix sugar or honey in lukewarm water with some oil. Then add Yeast and let it rest for 5-10 minutes until activated.
    Then add all the dry ingredients (all-purpose flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder) in the bowl of an electric stand mixer.
  • Using the dough hook, start mixing the ingredients at medium speed. Slowly start combining the liquid until it starts to form like a dough.
  • Once you have sticky dough, start combing at medium speed for 10 minutes until you have soft & smooth dough.
  • Once the dough is soft & smooth, I recommend to knead it for sometime with your hand.
  • Add oil in the inner pot of Instant Pot and spread it in the pot. Now transfer the dough in the Instant Pot and close lid. Press the Yogurt button and set a timer for 60 minutes for the dough to rise and double in size.

Shape the Buns:

  • Once the timer beeps, open lid. The dough should have doubled in size, punch it a couple of times and knead it again to remove all the air bubbles from the dough.
  • Using a rolling pin, roll the dough until it is around 1 cm of height.
  • Using a cookie cutter, cut out rounds from the dough. Re-roll & repeat the process for the rest of the dough.
  • Fold-over every bun and then use the rolling pin to flatten it a bit so that it becomes shaped like a bun.
  • Place all the buns in a large tray or baking tray and cover with the towel. Let it rest in a warm place for at least 30 minutes for buns to rise. The buns will be puffed and risen in size.

Steaming:

  • Instant Pot: Add 1 cup of water in the inner pot of Instant Pot and insert trivet. Add prepared buns in the steamer basket in a single layer. Insert the steamer basket over the trivet and close lid.
    (Note: Before steaming, take out the sealing ring so that the lid does not seal. )
  • Press the Steam button and set the timer for 10 minutes with the vent in the venting position. After 10 minutes, open the lid and transfer the buns in a pan.
    (Note: At venting position, the timer will not work so you may need to use an external timer).
  • Stove-Top: Use a stockpot and add water to it. When the boil starts to boil, add the buns in the steamer basket and insert in the stockpot, and close lid.
  • Steam the buns in batches for 10-12 minutes.

Tofu Filling:

  • Add oil in the skillet/ Instant Pot and fry the onion. When the onion starts to change color add bell pepper and saute for another minute. Then add silken tofu & the dressing of your choice ( I have used Pad Thai Sauce). Mash the tofu using spatula or potato masher and cook until well combined. Adjust the the seasoning by adding salt & pepper.

Layering:

  • Once bao buns are steamed open them carefully so that they won't break. Add salad on one side & add Tofu filling on another side and close the buns & serve!

Notes

You can use any stuffing that you like.
LUKEWARM WATER: For yeast to work, water needs to be a bit warmer than lukewarm. Yeast wont work if water is cold or at  boiling temperature.
FLOUR: You can use any flour while making these Bao Buns. You can use all-purpose flour, or wheat flour, or mix the flours.
STEAMING:
  1. Remove the sealing ring from the lid, otherwise sometimes pressure builds up. If you remove the sealing ring, the lid will not be sealed.
  2. If you set vent at venting position when steaming, the timer will not work. you can use the external timer for this purpose.
  3. Add water in the stockpot until ⅓ full.
  4. Place Bao Buns in the steamer basket and leave a little bit of space between the two buns and steam for 10 minutes.
FREEZING: Add the leftover Bao Buns in the tray.Leave the tray in the freezer for at least 2 hours. After 2 hours, they will be a little frozen and hard to touch. Remove them from tray and transfer in the Ziplocs.
When re-heating, add them again in the steamer basket and steam for 5 minutes in an Instant Pot using Steam setting.
 
Nutrition Facts
STEAMED BAO BUNS
Serving Size
 
1 grams
Amount per Serving
Calories
 
98
Calories from Fat 9
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
1
g
2
%
Saturated Fat
 
1
g
6
%
Sodium
 
178
mg
8
%
Potassium
 
62
mg
2
%
Carbohydrates
 
19
g
6
%
Fiber
 
1
g
4
%
Sugar
 
1
g
1
%
Protein
 
3
g
6
%
Vitamin A
 
10
IU
0
%
Vitamin C
 
1
mg
1
%
Calcium
 
20
mg
2
%
Iron
 
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Keyword Instant Pot, Steamed Bao Buns, vegan, vegetarian
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