Char Siu Bao
Fluffy steamed buns filled with sweet barbecue pork.
Ingredients
- 400 g All-purpose flour
- 300 g Pork shoulder
- 80 ml Char siu sauce
- 1 tbsp Light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp Cornstarch
- 40 g Sugar
- 2 Scallions (optional)
Method
- Mix the flour, sugar, and warm water into a soft dough and let it rise until doubled.
- While the dough rises, dice the pork and cook it in the char siu sauce and soy in a pan over medium heat, thickening with the cornstarch, then cool.
- Stir the sliced scallions into the cooled filling, then wrap rounds of dough around spoonfuls of filling and pleat closed.
- Steam the buns in a covered steamer until puffed and fluffy.
- Serve warm.
Tap “Start cooking” for live timers that flag what to get ahead on while something simmers.
About Char Siu Bao
Char siu bao are the fluffy steamed buns of Cantonese dim sum, soft white pillows of dough wrapped around a sweet-savory barbecue pork filling. They are among the most recognizable items on any dim sum cart, the ones pulled apart to reveal a glossy, ruddy pork center. This is the steamed (rather than baked) version, where the bun stays pale, cloud-soft, and slightly sweet against the rich filling inside.
The filling starts with diced pork cooked down in char siu sauce and soy, then thickened with a little cornstarch so it turns jammy and holds together neatly when the buns are pleated closed; sliced scallions fold in for freshness. The dough is a simple yeasted mix left to rise until doubled, which is what gives the steamed buns their characteristic airy, springy crumb. Pleating the rounds around each spoonful of filling takes a little practice but is forgiving, and a covered steamer does the rest, puffing them up in minutes. Serve them warm as a breakfast, a snack, or part of a dim sum spread — they also freeze and re-steam well for later.
Char Siu Bao: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Char Siu Bao?
A serving has about 391 calories — 18.1g protein, 67.9g carbs, 5.2g fat, 0.8g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is Char Siu Bao gluten-free?
As written, no — it contains All-purpose flour, Char siu sauce, Light soy sauce. You'd need a certified gluten-free swap for those ingredients to make it gluten-free.
How long does Char Siu Bao take to make?
About 90 minutes start to finish, but only around 26 of those are hands-on — the rest is largely unattended cooking time you can step away from. In the Homecooked app the timers and parallel steps are sequenced for you so the hands-on part feels even shorter.
Do I need every ingredient to make Char Siu Bao?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out scallions — they're optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Char Siu Bao make?
This recipe makes 6 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.