Vegan Char Siu Bao (Cantonese BBQ Pork Buns)

Delight your taste buds with these Vegan Char Siu Bao, a plant-based twist on the classic Cantonese BBQ pork buns. Featuring a fluffy, pillowy dough paired with a savory-sweet filling made from textured vegetable protein (TVP), soy sauce, hoisin sauce, and a hint of maple syrup, this recipe delivers all the bold flavors and satisfying textures you crave—without any animal products. Perfect for dim sum enthusiasts or anyone looking to explore vegan Chinese cuisine, these buns are steamed to soft perfection and packed with umami-rich goodness. Whether served as an appetizer, snack, or main course, these homemade Vegan Char Siu Bao are sure to impress. Get ready for an authentic taste of comfort with this plant-based dim sum favorite!

Nutriscore Rating: 67/100

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Image of Vegan Char Siu Bao (Cantonese BBQ Pork Buns)

Prep Time:60 mins

Cook Time:30 mins

Total Time:90 mins

Servings: 12

Ingredients

480 grams All-purpose flour
10 grams Instant yeast
50 grams Sugar
5 grams Baking powder
4 grams Salt
240 milliliters Warm water
30 grams Vegan butter
100 grams Textured vegetable protein (TVP)
150 milliliters Vegetable broth
60 milliliters Soy sauce
50 grams Hoisin sauce
20 milliliters Maple syrup
10 milliliters Sesame oil
15 milliliters Cooking oil
10 grams Minced garlic
10 grams Minced ginger
10 grams Cornstarch
15 milliliters Water (for cornstarch slurry)

Directions

Step 1

In a large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, instant yeast, sugar, baking powder, and salt.

Step 2

Add warm water into the dry mixture and knead until a dough forms.

Step 3

Incorporate vegan butter into the dough and knead for 10 minutes until smooth.

Step 4

Cover the dough with a damp cloth and let it rise for 1 hour or until doubled in size.

Step 5

While the dough is rising, prepare the filling. Rehydrate the TVP by soaking it in hot vegetable broth for 10 minutes, then drain any excess liquid.

Step 6

In a pan, heat cooking oil over medium heat and sauté the garlic and ginger until fragrant.

Step 7

Add the rehydrated TVP, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, maple syrup, and sesame oil. Stir well to combine.

Step 8

Mix cornstarch with water to create a slurry. Add this to the pan and cook until the sauce thickens. Remove from heat and let cool.

Step 9

After the dough has risen, punch it down and divide it into 12 equal pieces.

Step 10

Roll each piece into a ball, then flatten into a disc about 10 cm in diameter.

Step 11

Place a spoonful of the filling into the center of each disc, then gather the edges to encase the filling, pinching to seal at the top.

Step 12

Place each bun on a parchment paper square in a steamer. Leave space between them as they will expand.

Step 13

Cover and steam the buns over boiling water for 15 minutes.

Step 14

Serve warm and enjoy your Vegan Char Siu Bao!

Portion size

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1275.5g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	3081.8

Total Fat 57.7g	0%
Saturated Fat 19.9g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 5.3g
Cholesterol 1.5mg	0%
Sodium 5989.5mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 517.7g	0%
Dietary Fiber 33.1g	0%
Total Sugars 88.6g
Protein 114.8g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 292.5mg	0%
Iron 34.4mg	0%
Potassium 3068.4mg	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: 17.0%

Protein: 15.1%

Carbs: 67.9%