Description
Steamed Bao Buns or Gua Bao is a simple and healthy recipe. These Chinese steamed buns are made with a milk-based dough and steamed to perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (maida)
- 1 teaspoon instant yeast
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup milk (cold or at room temperature)
- 1 teaspoon cooking oil for brushing
Instructions
- Add flour, yeast, baking powder, sugar, salt to the bowl or a stand mixer. Slowly pour in the milk and mix with a spatula. Knead for 10 minutes until you get a smooth dough.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or damp cloth and rest the dough until it doubles in size, about 1 hour.
- Cut 10 pieces of square parchment paper approx 7cm X 7cm, to be used while steaming the baos.
- Once the dough has doubled in size, punch the dough down with your hand to release the air and knead for a minute.
- Cut the dough into 2 equal pieces, and divide each piece into 5 smaller pieces.
- Work on the dough pieces one at a time shaping them into a ball. Place the dough balls on a large plate and keep them covered with a damp cloth to prevent drying.
- Working on one dough ball at a time, use a rolling pin to roll the ball into a ¼″ (½ cm) thick oval. Flip the dough oval over and lightly roll again to smooth it out.
- Brush the top of the dough oval with a thin layer of oil, fold the oval in half, and place on a piece of parchment paper prepared earlier.
- Place the shaped baos on the parchment paper pieces & keep on a steamer plate, leaving some gap between the baos. Cover with damp cloth and let rise for 15 to 30 minutes before cooking, or until the size is 1.5 times bigger.
- Bring the steamer to a boil. Before steaming the baos, brush them lightly with oil. Place the steamer plate with the risen baos in the steamer. Place a kitchen towel between the steamer plate and the lid to prevent water from dripping on the baos. Cook over medium heat for 10 – 12 minutes.
- After 10 minutes, turn the heat off but leave the lid on for another 5 minutes.
- Remove the baos on a wire rack to cool. Then you can use the same steamer to steam the rest of the baos.
- Steam the baos in batches depending on the size of your steamer. While you’re steaming the first batch of the baos, transfer the rest of the baos to a greased plate and cover them with damp cloth.
- Stuff the baos with a filling of your choice and serve.
Notes
- Use cold or room temperature milk for the dough.
- Keep the shaped baos covered to prevent drying.
- Prep Time: 60 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: Steaming
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bao
- Calories: 106
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 100 mg
- Fat: 1 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: Steamed Bao Buns, Gua Bao, Chinese Steamed Buns