Char Siu Bao

Recipe at a glance

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp instant yeast
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 3/4 cup warm water
• 1 tbsp oil
• 1 cup diced char siu
• 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
• 1 tbsp oyster sauce
• 1 tbsp light soy sauce
• 1 tsp cornstarch slurry

Method

1. Make a soft dough with flour, yeast, sugar, water, and oil.
2. Let rise until puffy.
3. Simmer char siu with sauces and thicken lightly.
4. Cool filling completely.
5. Fill and seal buns.
6. Proof briefly and steam 10–12 minutes.

Menu-literacy notes

• Char siu bao may be steamed or baked; this is the steamed version.
• The filling contains pork and usually soy, wheat, and oyster sauce.
• The bun should not be mostly bread.

Variations and substitutions

• Adjust salt, sugar, chile, and vinegar gradually rather than changing all seasonings at once.
• For allergies or religious dietary needs, check sauces, wrappers, broth, cooking wine, and shared equipment.
• When adapting the dish, preserve the core technique and flavor structure that make it recognizable on a menu.

Related guides