Steamed Char Siu Pork Buns (BBQ Pork Bao)
Steamed Char Siu Pork Buns (BBQ Pork Bao) deliver tender, saucy pork wrapped in cloud-soft dough for a satisfying bite that balances sweet, salty, and umami notes. The filling glistens with dark soy and barbecue sauce while shallots add gentle aromatics. Serve warm for dim sum brunch, a light lunch, or as a shareable appetizer at gatherings.
- Prep50 mins
- Cook1 hr
- Serves24
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Steamed Char Siu Pork Buns (BBQ Pork Bao), not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactPoor
- 33 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 0 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityFair
- 68 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 38
- Heart Health
- 40
- Metabolic
- 11
- Digestive
- 22
- Inflammatory
- 46
- Performance
- 30
- General Wellness
- 1
Combine the pork, barbecue sauce, broth, shallots, soy sauce, oil, and sugar in a glass or ceramic bowl. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours.
- 2
About three hours before the meat finishes marinating, follow Steps 1 through 4 of the Chinese Steamed Buns recipe to make the dough. (This takes about 4 hours, so the dough will be ready when the pork has been cooked and shredded.)
- 3
When the pork has finished marinating, preheat an outdoor grill to medium heat and lightly oil the grate. Cut 24 small squares of waxed paper.
- 4
Remove the pork from the marinade and shake off any excess. Discard the remaining marinade.
- 5
Grill the pork on the preheated grill until an instant-read thermometer reads 145 degrees F (63 degrees C), 10 to 15 minutes. Let it cool, then shred or finely chop the meat.
- 6
Shape the dough into 24 balls. Roll each ball into a circle and place 1 tablespoon pork in the center. Wrap the dough up and over the filling, then pinch to seal the edges. Place each bun, seam-side down, on a waxed paper square; let stand until doubled in size, about 30 minutes.
- 7
Bring water to a boil in a wok over high heat. Reduce to medium and keep it boiling. Insert a steamer basket or set a steamer plate on a small wire rack in the center of the wok. Working in batches and leaving the outer 2 inches of the steamer basket uncovered, place the buns (on waxed paper) into the basket, spacing them 1 to 2 inches apart. Cover the wok and steam for 15 to 20 minutes.
- 8
Remove the lid, then turn off the heat. (If you turn off the heat before removing the lid, condensation from the lid will drip onto the buns and cause yellowish blisters.) Remove the buns from the wok.
- 9
Repeat Steps 6 and 7 to steam the remaining buns, adding more water to the wok as needed.
- Calories 35.46 kcal Low Source 2%
- Protein 2.39 g Low Source 5%
- Carbohydrate 3.38 g 1%
- Total Fat 1.37 g Low Source 2%
- Saturated Fat 0.35 g Low Source 2%
- Trans Fat 0.01 g High --
- Cholesterol 7.01 mg Low Source 2%
- Sodium 99.87 mg Low Source 4%
- Dietary Fiber 0.15 g Low Source 1%
- Total Sugars 2.01 g --
- Added Sugars 1.45 g Low Source 3%
- Calcium 1.77 mg Low Source 0%
- Iron 0.14 mg Low Source 1%
- Potassium 48.17 mg Low Source 1%
- Vitamin A 6.34 mcg Low Source 1%
- Vitamin C 0.46 mg Low Source 1%
- Vitamin D 0.07 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Soy 🌱
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
About This Recipe
Steamed Char Siu Pork Buns (BBQ Pork Bao) is a Chinese appetizer recipe made with 8 ingredients. It takes about 1 hr 50 mins, serves 24, and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Barbecue Sauce, Boneless Loin Pork Roast, Chicken Broth, and Shallot. Each serving provides about 35.46 kcal.
Recipe Questions
- What is Steamed Char Siu Pork Buns (BBQ Pork Bao)?
- It is a Chinese recipe made with 8 ingredients, usually served for appetizer or dinner or lunch or snack.
- What is Steamed Char Siu Pork Buns (BBQ Pork Bao) made of?
- The main ingredients are Barbecue Sauce, Boneless Loin Pork Roast, Chicken Broth, Shallot, Soy Sauce. The full list of 8 is above.
- What goes well with Steamed Char Siu Pork Buns (BBQ Pork Bao)?
- Explore these Chinese side-dish recipes.
- How long does it take to make Steamed Char Siu Pork Buns (BBQ Pork Bao)?
- About 1 hr 50 mins in total: 50 mins to prepare and 1 hr to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 35.46 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Steamed Char Siu Pork Buns (BBQ Pork Bao) easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 8 ingredients and 9 steps.
- Is Steamed Char Siu Pork Buns (BBQ Pork Bao) healthy?
- Steamed Char Siu Pork Buns (BBQ Pork Bao) has an easyChef Pro health score of 33/100. Per serving, it provides 35.46 calories and 2.39 g of protein, or 5% of the Daily Value. It contains Soy, Wheat and Gluten, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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