INTRODUCTION

This is another recipe in my series of my Chinese buns – the baked barbecue pork buns or Sio Bao . Sio essentially means baked and bao means Chinese steamed buns. Instead of being steamed, these buns were baked in the oven.

Initially, I have this naive believed that preparation is the same as the steamed buns but instead of steamed, it is baked. However, subsequent read up shows that the dough is totally different from the steamed buns. Both ingredients and preparation methods are much more difficult than the steamed buns. However, the hard work off once you took the first bite.

I have always loved this sio bao and in fact, I have just asked my mother in law to bring back some sio bao from Kuching 2 weeks ago. I love its crispy skin and the sweet fillings.

I decided to try out yesterday with some leftover roast pork that I have. However, for the filling preparation, I did not take any picture and I have to revert all of you back to the Char Siu Steamed buns fillings. I have used exactly the same filling except that I have added some green peas to the fillings.

I am extremely happy with the batch of sio pao that I have prepared yesterday. The skin is crispy and thin. In fact, after yesterday’s exercise, I am more confidence to prepare  Chinese crispy  skin biscuits with this dough method.

WHAT IS REQUIRED

Skin Recipe adapted from: 酥皮叉烧包

Servings: Prepare about 15 Sio Baos

Water Skin

• 200 grams of Plain flour 
• 60 grams of vegetable shortening/Lard/cooking oil/butter
• 30 grams of castor sugar
• 1/4 teaspoons of salt
• 100 ml or grams of water

Oil Skin

• 150 grams of plain flour
• 100 grams of vegetable shortening/Lard/cooking oil/butter

Fillings

• 300 grams of diced barbecue pork （叉烧）
• 200 grams of green peas (青豆）
• 1 big onion – diced （大葱）
• 2 tablespoons of sesame oil （麻油）
• 3 tablespoons of castor sugar （细砂糖）
• 3 tablespoons of Chinese cooking wine （烹饪酒）
• 5 tablespoons of oyster sauce （耗油）
• 2 tablespoons of dark soya sauce (not in picture) （酱油）
• About 5 tablespoons of corn starch/potato starch with 5 tablespoons of water （5勺生粉或玉米粉加5勺的水）

Others

• 1 egg mixed with 1 tablespoon of golden syrup
• some sesame seeds

STEPS OF PREPARATION

• In the frying pan, add 4 tablespoons of cooking oil, sauté the onions until fragrant. Add in the barbecue pork and stir fry until well mixed which took about 1-2 minutes. Add in the green peas, cooking wine, oyster sauce, sesame oil, sugar, oyster sauce and dark soya sauce. Stir fry for another 2 minutes. Add in the starch solution and off the heat when the starch solution turns transparent. If it is not sticky enough, add in more starches.

• It is best to take some filling and taste if it suits your taste buds. Note that you have to be rather high handed with your seasonings because the bun skin is rather plain in taste. Once ready, set aside for later assembly.

• Pre-heat the oven to 180 degree Celsius and line a baking tray with baking paper.

• Put all the ingredients for the water skin and use a stand mixer to knead until smooth. Note that this is rather fast and may took 2-3 minutes. Kneading using a stand mixer is optional and it is rather easy to knead by hand. Take out the water skin, set aside and perform the same for the oil skin. If it is too sticky, add plain flour one tablespoon by tablespoon until a pliable dough is form.

• Divide both the water skin and oil skin into 15 equal portions. Take one portion of water skin, flatten it, put a portion of oil skin on top. Seal the water skin. Lightly flatten it and set aside.

• For the wrapping, take one portion of the combined skin (oil skin wrapped by water skin) and placed in a lightly floured surface. Use a rolling pin to roll it until about 2 mm thick and in the shape of a circle.

• Put about 1-2 tablespoons of the fillings on the centre of skin, seal the edges and placed in a baking tray lined with baking paper. Perform the same for the remaining 14 portions.

• Once ready, bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, take the buns out and egg wash followed by sprinkle with some sesame seeds. For egg wash, crack 1 egg and add 1 tablespoon of golden syrup, stir until well combined, brush on top of the buns sparingly. Send back to the oven again and bake for another 15-20 minutes until the desired colour tone.

CONCLUSION

In fact, handling this dough is very fun. It is rather oily and quite elastic. It is much easier to shape than the traditional buns dough. Remember that  any type of fats is acceptable. However, usually vegetable shortening or lard is used as it will produce a much crispy skin. Do try and I am sure you will not regret the hard work that you have invested.

Hope you like the post today. Cheers and have a nice day.

For the reader’s convenience, Guiashushu have issued the E-book (Easy Chinese New Year Recipes – A step by Step Guide). The e-book was packed with 30 Chinese New Year recipes and you can get hold of a copy of the E-book HERE or by clicking on the picture below.

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