Steamed Bao Buns with Vegetable Filling

Fluffy, pillowy-soft, and bursting with flavor, these Steamed Bao Buns with Vegetable Filling are a delightful way to explore the art of Asian street food right in your own kitchen. Made from scratch, the dough is delicately steamed to perfection, creating light and airy buns with a slight chew. The star of the filling is a medley of vibrant vegetables, including shiitake mushrooms, carrots, and cabbage, stir-fried in a savory soy-sesame glaze. This recipe combines simple pantry staples like all-purpose flour and soy sauce with bold aromatics like garlic and spring onions for a plant-based dish that’s anything but ordinary. Perfect as an appetizer, snack, or even a light meal, these handmade bao buns are best served warm and can be customized with your favorite toppings or sides. Experience the satisfying process of making bao from scratch while enjoying a delicious, wholesome reward.

Nutriscore Rating: 69/100

Prep Time:45 mins

Cook Time:30 mins

Total Time:75 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 250 g all-purpose flour
• 3 tbsp sugar
• 2 tsp instant yeast
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 0.5 tsp salt
• 125 ml warm water
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 tbsp white vinegar
• 1 medium carrot, julienned
• 100 g shiitake mushrooms, sliced
• 100 g cabbage, shredded
• 2 stalks spring onions, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 2 tbsp water
• 0.25 tsp black pepper

Directions

Step 1

To make the dough, combine 250 g of all-purpose flour, 3 tbsp of sugar, 2 tsp of instant yeast, 1 tsp of baking powder, and 0.5 tsp of salt in a large mixing bowl.

Step 2

In a separate container, mix 125 ml of warm water, 2 tbsp of vegetable oil, and 1 tbsp of white vinegar.

Step 3

Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until a dough forms. Knead the dough for about 8-10 minutes until it is smooth and elastic.

Step 4

Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover it with a damp towel, and let it rest in a warm place for about 1 hour or until it doubles in size.

Step 5

While the dough is rising, prepare the vegetable filling. Heat 1 tbsp of vegetable oil in a pan over medium heat.

Step 6

Add 2 minced garlic cloves and stir-fry until fragrant.

Step 7

Add 1 medium carrot (julienned), 100 g of sliced shiitake mushrooms, and 100 g of shredded cabbage to the pan. Stir-fry for about 5-6 minutes until the vegetables are softened.

Step 8

Add 2 tbsp of soy sauce, 1 tsp of sesame oil, and black pepper to taste (around 0.25 tsp) to the vegetables and mix well.

Step 9

In a small bowl, mix 1 tbsp of cornstarch with 2 tbsp of water and pour this slurry into the pan, stirring until the sauce thickens and coats the vegetables.

Step 10

Remove the pan from heat and stir in 2 chopped spring onions. Set aside to cool.

Step 11

Once the dough has risen, punch it down to release the air and divide it into 8 equal pieces.

Step 12

Roll each piece into a ball, flatten with a rolling pin to an oval shape about 0.5 cm thick.

Step 13

Lightly brush the surface with oil and fold the oval in half to form a bun shape, placing a small piece of parchment in between to prevent sticking.

Step 14

Arrange the buns on a parchment-lined tray, cover with a damp cloth, and let them rise for another 20 minutes.

Step 15

Prepare a steamer and bring the water to a boil. Place the buns into the steamer, ensuring they have enough space to expand.

Step 16

Steam the buns over medium-high heat for 10 minutes. Then, turn off the heat and allow them to rest in the steamer for 5 more minutes before removing them.

Step 17

Carefully open each bun and fill with the prepared vegetable mixture.

Step 18

Serve immediately and enjoy your vegetable-filled bao buns.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(866.5g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1699.4

Total Fat 56.9g	0%
Saturated Fat 8.1g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 31.1g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 2863.8mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 265.4g	0%
Dietary Fiber 16.6g	0%
Total Sugars 47.7g
Protein 36.4g	0%

Vitamin D 18IU	0%
Calcium 151.5mg	0%
Iron 14.3mg	0%
Potassium 1267.0mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 29.8%

Protein: 8.5%

Carbs: 61.7%