Steamed Buns (Baozi)

They may not be the prettiest buns you've ever seen, but don't let looks deceive you—these rank high on my list of all the steamed buns I've ever eaten. Making steamed buns that look like beauty queens might take some practice but it's really what's on the inside that matters here: The dough is soft but not too cakey, tender with a slight chew, with a barely sweetened taste that pairs well with, well, almost anything. 

There are endless variations on the steamed bun across different cultures and regions: different dough recipes, different fillings, different cooking methods. Below, I've given three separate filling options, all of which can be made a day in advance: a meaty cabbage-pork combo, a flexible miso-carrot mix that can be vegan or pescatarian, and a sweet red bean paste version that can be served as dessert. Let these be mere suggestions: Once you have the dough made, you can play around with creating your own filling variations. Known as 包子 (baozi) in Chinese, the steamed bun literally translates to "a little package"— at its core, it's a humble bread house that welcomes whatever your heart desires to stuff into it and can be eaten at any time of day, on any day of the year. 

On yeast and flour

Once upon a time in the olden days, like most traditional bread recipes, Chinese steamed buns were made with sourdough preferments. To keep the flavor consistent and the process a little more convenient for our modern-day lifestyles, I've chosen to use commercial dry yeast in this version. You can use active dry or instant yeast interchangeably for this recipe.

Many Chinese steamed buns use a specific type of low-protein all-purpose flour that can be hard to find in many parts of the U.S. To approximate the texture that kind of flour achieves, we will be using two techniques. First, to keep the bun texture fluffy but not dry and powdery, take a minute to make a water roux with cornstarch. Similar to a tangzhong starter that's commonly used in milk bread recipes, this lightly-heated gelatinized mix will add a light bounce and desirable tackiness to your bun. 

The second technique is to use boiling liquid in the dough to create a more tender steamed bun with just the right amount of chew. Heat a portion of milk to a simmer (microwave or stovetop are both fine) and stir it into the flour before adding in the remaining milk and bloomed yeast mixture—the hot milk will partially set and tame the gluten network in the dough to limit toughness.

Hand-mixed vs. stand-mixer dough

If working by hand, to avoid burning out your arms and worsening your carpal tunnel syndrome, bring the dough together and knead just until it forms a cohesive dough with no dry pockets. It might not be smooth right away—that's okay. Cover the bowl and return to it 30 minutes later, and you'll find that it has relaxed and become easier to knead. From here, work the dough by gently folding the edges into the center, similar to the stretch and fold technique used in our sourdough bread and whole wheat bread recipes. Return to the dough and repeat this quick fold two more times and your dough should be ready to go.

While I prefer to observe and feel the dough change underneath my hands during the kneading process (it's quite meditative and therapeutic!), you can also use a stand-mixer to get the job done. If you don't feel like returning to the dough periodically over 2 hours, let the mixer go until the dough is pretty smooth—anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes, depending on your mixer speed—then cover the bowl, step away, and let the dough rise until it's nearly doubled in size.

To pleat or not to pleat

For a classic savory steamed bun look, you're going to want to pleat these buns. Truth be told, it's a bit difficult to get the hang of it as a beginner! As with all things, practice makes perfect. The key is to roll out your portion dough so that the center of each round is thicker than the edges: Thinner edges are easier to fold and pinch. Use one hand to fold and hold the pleats in place while the other supports the bottom of the bun and continuously pushes the filling into the dough to ensure enclosure.

But there's absolutely no rule that states you have to pleat your steamed buns! If the idea of messily pleated buns give you the kind of anxiety I experienced while making these, you can forgo the pleat attempt and simply cinch the edges together, flip the bun upside down so that the seams are on the bottom. Give the bun a gentle tuck and roll on your work surface to seal completely.

How to steam your buns

You can use a metal steamer basket that fits inside a deep pot, or traditional bamboo steamers. To ensure a non-stick release, place your buns on top of 3" squares of parchment paper before setting them inside your steamer. They will double in size during proofing and cooking, so make sure there's at least 2" of space between each bun.

There are a few things to keep in mind to adjust the bun's texture to your liking. To develop a shiny, chewy skin on your bun, let the buns proof uncovered. This exposure to air will let the surface dough dry out and harden slightly, giving it that characteristic texture. For a fluffier bun, let the dough proof longer, about 1 hour. For a chewier, denser bun, shorten the proof time to about 30 minutes. 

Gradual heating and cooling will yield a smoother surface on your buns and ensure a more evenly cooked bun. Start the steaming process with cold water: Fill your pot with about 2 cups of cold water, ensuring that the surface of the water has at least 2" clearance from the bottom of the steamer basket. Cover your steamer, then turn the heat on, and once the water is up to a boil, lower your heat to a medium-low. Steam for 10 minutes, then turn off the heat—but keep the lid on for 5 more minutes! Uncovering right away will shock the buns with cold air, which will make them shrink and wrinkle the skin. 

These buns can be kept in the fridge for up to 3 days or frozen in an airtight bag once cool for longer storage. To reheat, re-steam in a steamer basket, or in the microwave alongside a separate bowl of hot water (to simulate a steam environment).

If you've made these buns, please drop us a line down below, leave a rating, let us know how you liked 'em, and if you've made any other kinds of fillings!