Baked Baozi Buns With Pork Filling

Baked Baozi Buns are an alternative to the traditional steamed version. I once saw a recipe for baked bao buns with goat meat filling and decided to use the recipe with my own pork filling. They turned out really tasty, still fluffy but with a little crunch from the oven, and most importantly, the filling is juicy inside.

You can also check out my other recipes for steamed baozi buns, as well as the fried version. They are all great in their own way!

Check out my Pork Steamed Baozi Recipe LINK

Check out my Gochujang Chicken Baozi Recipe LINK

Ingredients (Yield: 12 Buns)

For the Dough:

- 4g active dry yeast

- 10g granulated sugar 

- 175ml lukewarm water 

- 290g bread flour

For the Filling:

- 250g pork meat

- 40g chopped scallions

- 70g corn

- 1 tablespoon sesame oil

- 2 tablespoons soy sauce

 - Salt, pepper, Sichuan pepper, sugar to taste 

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Filling:

- In a large mixing bowl, combine all the filling ingredients.

- Cover the bowl and refrigerate until ready to use.

2. Make the Dough:

 - In a bowl, combine flour, yeast, sugar, and lukewarm water.

- Knead the dough for 8-10 minutes until it becomes soft and smooth.

- Transfer the dough to a greased bowl, cover it with a damp cloth, and let it rest for an hour or until it doubles in size.

 - Once risen, deflate the dough and divide it into 12 equal pieces.

- Roll each piece into a ball, flatten it, and use a rolling pin to roll it into 10cm circles.

- Place a portion of the filling in the center of each circle, pleat the edges, and seal / pleat the buns.

- Place the buns on a baking tray lined with parchment paper, ensuring they are spaced apart to prevent sticking.

3. Bake the Buns:

 - Preheat the oven to 200°C.

- Place the baking tray on the middle rack and bake for 18-20 minutes.

- Increase the oven temperature to 230°C and bake for an additional 3-5 minutes. Monitor closely to prevent burning. Adjust the time as needed based on your oven's performance.

- Freeze any leftover buns and steam them to reheat when desired.

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Bao Zi - Steamed Buns With Gochujang Chicken Filling

Baozi (包子), also known as Chinese steamed buns, are a type of filled bun or bread-like dumpling in various Chinese cuisines. They are a popular breakfast item and can be found in dim sum restaurants, street food stalls, and home kitchens. Baozi can be filled with a variety of ingredients, including meats, vegetables, and sweet fillings. 

This time with a Korean-inspired filling—gochujang chicken. The filling is a bit spicy, perfect for me, but you can adjust the gochujang paste to suit your taste.

It's a good way to use up any leftover meat, for example, from chicken soup.

Check out my Pork Baozi Recipe LINK

Check out my Baked Baozi Recipe LINK

Ingredients (Yield 10 Buns)

For the Dough:

- 4g active dry yeast

- 10g granulated sugar 

- 175 ml lukewarm water 

- 290 g bread flour

For the Chicken:

- 350g boneless, skinless chicken thighs / breast 

- 1 tablespoon sesame oil

- 2-3 garlic cloves, minced

- 2 tablespoons gochujang paste

- 2 tablespoons soy sauce

- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar

- 3 tablespoons honey

To serve:

- 1 tablespoon chili oil

- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

- 2 scallions (spring onions), finely sliced

- Fresh cilantro (coriander)

Instructions

1. Make the Chicken:

   - Cook, bake, fry, or use leftover chicken meat, according to your preference.

   - Let the meat cool and then shred it with forks.

   - Add all the seasonings and stir until combined.

2. Make the Dough:

   - Combine flour, yeast, salt, and water. Knead the dough for 8-10 minutes until soft and smooth.

   - Transfer to a greased bowl, cover, and let the dough rest for an hour.

   - Once risen, deflate and divide the dough into 10 pieces.

   - Roll each piece into a ball, flatten, and use a rolling pin to roll into 10cm circles.

   - Place chicken filling in the center, pleat, and seal.

   - Lay the buns on parchment paper, keep distance to prevent sticking together.

3. Steam the Buns:

   - Rest the buns, covered, for 30 minutes.

   - Steam over boiling water for 10 minutes until puffed.

   - Let rest, covered, for an additional 5 minutes to prevent collapsing.

4. Serve:

   - Garnish with chili oil, sesame seeds, scallions, and cilantro if desired.

   - Freeze leftover buns and steam to heat them up when desired.

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Lu Rou Fan 滷肉飯 - Taiwanese Braised Pork Rice

Lu Rou Fan (滷肉飯) is a beloved Taiwanese dish consisting of braised pork served over steamed white rice. The pork is slowly cooked with soy sauce, rice wine, sugar, garlic, and a blend of aromatic spices such as star anise and cinnamon, resulting in a savory, slightly sweet sauce. The dish is typically garnished with chopped green onions, fried shallots, or pickled vegetables, adding texture and flavor. Known for its comforting and rich taste, Lu Rou Fan is a popular and hearty meal in Taiwanese cuisine.

Ingredients

- 500g Pork, cut into smaller pieces

- 150g  onion, chopped or shallots

- 3-4 Cloves garlic, minced

- 20ml Light soy sauce 

- 40ml Dark soy sauce

- 30 ml Cooking wine 

- 30ml Oyster sauce 

- 10g Sugar 

- 1 tsp Five spice powder

- 1 tsp White pepper

- 600ml Water

- 6 Hard boiled eggs (optional)

Instructions

1. Prepare ingredients:

- Cut pork into pieces.

- Peel and finely mince the garlic cloves.

- Place the eggs in a pot of cold water. Bring to a boil and let them cook for 8-10 minutes. Remove the eggs and place them in a bowl of ice water to cool. Once cooled, peel the eggs and set aside.

2. Cook:

- In a pot, add enough oil to cover the bottom. Heat over medium-high heat and add the minced garlic and onion. Fry until fragrant and slightly golden, about 1-2 minutes.

- Add the pork to the pot. Stir fry over high heat until the pork is browned and some fat has rendered out, about 5-7 minutes.

- Add the light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, cooking wine, oyster sauce, sugar, five spice powder, and white pepper. Toss the pork to evenly coat with the seasonings.

- Pour in water. Cover the pot and bring to a boil.

- Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low. Simmer for 45 minutes, or until the pork is tender and the flavors have melded together.

- If using hard boiled eggs, add them to the pot during the last 10 minutes of cooking. This will allow the eggs to absorb the flavors of the sauce.

- Taste the dish and adjust seasoning if needed. Add more soy sauce or salt if necessary.

- Remove the pot from heat. Serve the pork and eggs over steamed rice, spooning the sauce over the top. Enjoy!

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Bok Choy-shaped Dumplings With Pork Filling

Dumplings are a beloved staple in Chinese cuisine (and not only), celebrated for their versatility, deliciousness, and cultural significance. They are typically made with a thin dough wrapper filled with a variety of ingredients, including meat, vegetables, seafood, and sometimes even sweet fillings. Dumplings can be cooked in various ways such as boiling, steaming, pan-frying, or deep-frying, each method imparting a unique texture and flavor to the final product.

You can find dumplings in many shapes, such as half moons, ovals, boats, and triangles, but not only these. There are also many skillful cooks who have gone further, creating shapes like bok choy, Chinese cabbage, cherry blossoms, and many more. I also prepared bok choy-shaped dumplings, and I must say they aren't as difficult to prepare, although they do take plenty of time. And look really cute!

Ingredients (Makes 20 Dumplings)

For the Wrappers:

- 150g flour

- 90 ml hot water

- Pinch of salt

- 1 tsp matcha powder or food coloring

For the Filling:

- 220g minced pork

- 80g spring onion, finely chopped

- 2 cloves garlic, minced

- 1 tbsp light soy sauce

- 1/2 tsp pepper

- 1 tsp salt

- 1 tbsp cornstarch

- 1 tbsp sesame oil

Instructions

To Prepare the Filling:

1. Season the pork in a mixing bowl.

2. Mix in the chopped garlic and spring onion.

3. Leave in the fridge until ready to use.

To Make the Dough:

1. In a large mixing bowl, mix flour, hot water, and a pinch of salt.

2. Knead the dough for 2-3 minutes until smooth.

3. Divide the dough into two equal portions. Save one portion for the white base part.

4. For the green dough (Pak Choi leaves part), add 1 tsp matcha powder/spinach powder/desired food coloring and knead to combine.

5. Rest the doughs in a covered container for 30 minutes.

To Prepare the Two-Color Wrappers:

1. Roll both doughs into two 20cm ropes.

2. Use a rolling pin to flatten the green dough rope lengthwise.

3. Wrap the white dough with the green dough, pinch, and slightly roll it on the working surface to seal the gap.

4. Divide the dough into 20 pieces.

5. Press each mini dough into a small disc and roll it into a thin wrapper (about 4” width) with a rolling pin. Dust and set aside.

To Assemble and Steam the Dumplings:

1. Place a dumpling wrapper on your palm and add 1 tsp of filling in the center.

2. Bring up the sides and gently pinch and squeeze with your thumb and index fingers to seal the dumpling top.

3. Repeat with the rest of the filling and wrappers.

4. Bring water to a boil in a wok or large saucepan over high heat.

5. Line a bamboo steamer or plate with parchment paper.

6. Place the dumplings on the steamer/dish and steam for 8 minutes over high heat with the lid on until they are fully cooked.

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Carpathian Mountain Cake with Mangoes - Karpatka z Mango

Karpatka is a traditional Polish dessert that consists of two layers of choux pastry filled with a rich, creamy custard. The dessert gets its name from the Carpathian Mountains, as the top layer of pastry, which puffs up and becomes irregular and rugged during baking, is said to resemble the mountain range. The custard filling is typically made with milk, sugar, butter, and sometimes vanilla, creating a smooth and luscious contrast to the crisp pastry. Karpatka is often dusted with powdered sugar before serving, making it a visually appealing and delicious treat.

I used cream cheese in the filling and added mangoes as they are currently in season.

Ingredients:

Cake:

- 100g flour

- 150g milk

- 50g oil

- 3 eggs

Cream:

- 300ml milk

- 250g cream cheese

- 1 egg

- 80g sugar

- 35g cornstarch

- 100g mangoes 

Instructions:

Cake:

1. Prepare the Cake:

   - Place the oil and milk in a saucepan.

   - Bring to a boil. 

   - Add flour and stir until the ingredients are combined into a smooth mass. 

   - Set aside to cool.

2. Preheat the Oven:

   - Preheat the oven to 200°C. 

   - Line a rectangular baking form (25 cm x 35 cm) with parchment paper.

3. Mix the Batter:

   - Transfer the cake to a bowl. 

   - Add the eggs and mix until you get a smooth batter.

   - Spread the batter evenly in the baking form. 

4. Bake the Layers:

   - Bake for 20-25 minutes until the cake is golden brown. Do not open the oven during baking.

   - Remove the baking form from the oven once cooled down. 

Cream:

1. Prepare the Pudding:

   - Blend together milk, sugar, corn starch and egg.

   - Pour onto a saucepan, stir constantly and cook the pudding until smooth and thick. 

   - Set aside to cool, cover with plastic wrap to prevent a skin from forming.

2. Prepare the Cream:

   - Beat the cream cheese until fluffy.

   - Gradually add the pudding mixture, one spoonful at a time, and continue beating until the cream is light and fluffy.

Assembling:

1. Prepare Mangoes:

   - Peel and cut the mangoe to desired size.

2. Assemble the Cake:

   - Cut the cake in half

   - Spread part of the cream evenly over the first layer. 

   - Press the mangoe into the cream and cover with the remaining cream.

   - Cover with the second baked layer.

   - Refrigerate for 2 hours.

Serving:

1. Finish and Serve:

   - Before serving, dust the Karpatka with powdered sugar.

   - Cut into portions and serve.

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