Char Siu Bao

Ingredients

• •3 cups bao flour (or all-purpose flour)
• •1 tbsp sugar (for dough)
• •2 1/4 tsp instant yeast
• •1 tsp baking powder
• •1 cup warm water
• •2 tbsp vegetable oil
• •2 cups char siu (Chinese BBQ pork), diced small
• •3 tbsp oyster sauce
• •2 tbsp hoisin sauce
• •1 tbsp sugar (for filling)
• •1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 3 tbsp water
• •1 tsp sesame oil

Steps

1. 1.Mix the flour, sugar, yeast, and baking powder, then stir in the warm water and oil to form a dough; knead for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
2. 2.Cover and let rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, until doubled in size.
3. 3.For the filling, simmer the diced char siu with oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, and sugar in a small pan until bubbling, then stir in the cornstarch slurry and cook until thickened into a sticky glaze; stir in sesame oil and let cool completely.
4. 4.Punch down the dough and divide into 12 equal pieces, rolling each into a ball.
5. 5.Flatten each ball into a disc thicker in the center than at the edges, place a spoonful of the cooled filling in the middle, then gather the edges up and pleat them together to seal at the top, twisting to close.
6. 6.Place each bun on a square of parchment paper and let rest for 20 minutes to proof again.