Chinese Steamed Buns with Meat Filling

This Chinese Steamed Bun recipe has a meat and vegetable filling. The filling is best if allowed to rest in the refrigerator overnight. Use meat that is half fat and half flesh for the most tender filling. A wok equipped with a stainless steel steam plate, a plate with holes to allow steam to pass, is required to make these tasty buns.

• Preparation Time: 50 mins
• Cooking Time: 30 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 20 mins
• Calories: 33 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 2 ½ tablespoons water
• ground black pepper to taste
• 1 recipe Chinese Steamed Buns
• 8 ounces chopped pork
• 1 (4 ounce) can shrimp, drained and chopped
• 2 green onions
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh ginger root
• 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon rice wine

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

REMOVE LID BEFORE you turn off heat, or else water will drip back onto bun surface and produce yellowish "blisters" on bun surfaces. Continue steaming batches of buns until all are cooked.

Step 2

Cook chopped pork in a wok over medium heat. After 3 minutes of cooking add chopped shrimp if desired. Cook until pork is no longer pink. Drain, season with salt and set aside to cool.

Step 3

Mix together green onions, ginger, soy sauce, rice wine, oil, sugar, and pepper. Stir in minced meat. Stir in water and mix thoroughly. Chill in freezer for 2 hours, or in refrigerator overnight to firm up and blend flavors.

Step 4

Prepare dough for Chinese Steamed Buns.

Step 5

Shape dough into balls. Roll each out into a circle, (like Won-Ton wrappers). Put 1 tablespoonful of prepared meat mixture in the center of each circle, and wrap dough around filling. Place seams down onto wax paper squares. Let stand until doubled, about 30 minutes.

Step 6

Bring water to a boil in wok, and reduce heat to medium; the water should still be boiling. Place steam-plate on a small wire rack in the middle of the wok. Transfer as many buns on wax paper as will comfortably fit onto steam-plate leaving 1 to 2 inches between the buns. At least 2 inches space should be left between steam-plate and the wok. Cover wok with lid. Steam buns over boiling water for 15 to 20 minutes.