PORK BUNS CHINESE RECIPES

Steps:

• Combine 1/2 cup water, yeast, 2 teaspoons sugar, and 1 teaspoon cake flour in a large bowl; let stand until top is beginning to form a layer of white foam, about 20 minutes. Add remaining cake flour (2 cups minus the 1 teaspoon) and stir gently using chopsticks until dough comes together. Knead dough until smooth. Cover with plastic wrap and let first dough stand in a warm place for 4 to 6 hours.
• Mix 2/3 cup water, ginger, spring onion, oyster sauce, 1 tablespoon sugar, all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon corn flour, sesame oil, and white pepper in a saucepan over medium-low heat; cook, stirring constantly, until thickened, about 5 minutes. Cool filling to room temperature; refrigerate.
• Spoon chilled filling over pork; mix well.
• Sift 1/2 cup corn flour, 3/8 cup cake flour, and baking powder together into a bowl. Add 3/8 cup sugar and cooking oil and mix well. Mix corn flour mixture into first dough, kneading until smooth. Roll dough into a ball. Cover ball with an inverted bowl and let stand for 10 minutes.
• Divide dough into 12 to 15 pieces and roll each into a ball. Flatten the balls into rounds. Spoon 1 to 2 tablespoons filling into the center of each round and fold round around filling and seal. It's fine if the top is a bit thick, it just helps create the top flower look.
• Line bamboo steamers with parchment paper and arrange buns on top. Set aside in a warm place for 5 minutes. Close lids tightly.
• Bring 1 1/2 to 2 quarts water to a boil in a wok or large skillet for 10 minutes. Place steamers in the wok and steam buns over medium heat until cooked through, 12 to 15 minutes.

Steps:

• To Make the Dough Dissolve the sugar in the warm water. Add the yeast and stir through. Set aside until yeast activates. In a large bowl, add the plain flour. Pour in the yeast water in batches. Use chopsticks to stir through the flour, making sure the mixture is well incorporated. Gather the dough together and form a ball. Cover the dough in cling wrap and place in a draught-free location. Allow to rest until doubled in size and dough doesn’t spring back when poked. To Make the Filling Add the pork mince, grated garlic, grated ginger, light soy sauce, oyster sauce, Shaoxing wine, salt, sugar, dark soy sauce and sesame oil in a large mixing bowl. Use a pair of chopsticks to combine the ingredients, working the mixture in one direction. Stir in the chicken stock, mixing for 2-3 mins until the meat absorbs the liquid. Add the diced spring onion. Mix through until well combined. To Make the Buns Sprinkle some flour over a clean working surface. Punch the ball of dough to get rid of air bubbles. Place the dough on the floured surface, fold in half and knead, pressing down against the working surface. Turn dough 90° clockwise and continue kneading for 8 mins, or until there are no air bubbles. To check, cut the dough to see if there are still air bubbles. Continue kneading if there are big air bubbles in the dough. Roll the dough into a log, then divide the dough into 12 equal pieces. If you have a scale, you can weigh the dough to divide it accurately. Cover your dough with a damp cloth as you're working. Flatten a piece of dough. Using your thumb to hold the middle, use a rolling pin in your dominant hand to roll the dough out, while your non-dominant hand holds onto it. Continue this until you have a wrapper with a thick middle and thin edges. Add 2 tbsp worth of pork filling into the middle of the wrapper. With your thumb and middle finger under the wrapper and your forefinger on the top, lift the edge and pinch it to make a pleat. Use your other hand to gather more dough, then pinch with your index finger. Continue doing this all the way around, making sure your thumb never leaves the first pleat. You can either leave a hole on the top, or twist the pleat and pinch it together to close the top of the bun. Repeat with remaining dough and filling. To Cook Line a bamboo steamer with perforated steamer paper liners. Place your steamer over a wok filled with hot water. Place your pork buns in the steamer, leaving adequate space between them. Cover with the lid and allow to proof for 15 mins. Turn the heat on to high. Once the water boils, steam the pork buns for 15 mins. Turn off the heat and leave pork buns covered for 5 mins. Serve.