Siopao (Filipino Steamed Dumplings)
These Filipino steamed buns feature a tender rice-flour dough wrapped around savory shredded chicken scented with soy, onions, and garlic. Each siopao turns pillowy and light in the steamer, with a mildly sweet dough that balances the umami filling. Serve warm as a snack or appetizer, perfect for sharing straight from the steamer.
- Prep45 mins
- Cook30 mins
- Serves15
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Siopao (Filipino Steamed Dumplings), not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 50 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 0.11 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityFair
- 54 / 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.
- 44
- Heart Health
- 51
- Metabolic
- 19
- Digestive
- 33
- Inflammatory
- 32
- Performance
- 31
- General Wellness
- 1
Dissolve the yeast in the water; stir in the sugar and beat in 2 1/2 cups of rice flour to make a soft sponge. Set it aside in a warm place to double in size, about 40 minutes. Mix in 2 more cups of rice flour and 1/4 cup of shortening, then turn the dough onto a greased work surface; knead in the remaining 1/4 cup of shortening until smooth. Cut the dough into 15 equal pieces; shape each piece into a ball.
- 2
Heat the vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir the onion and garlic in the hot oil until translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the chicken, soy sauce, 2 teaspoons of sugar, green onion, salt, and pepper. If the mixture is watery, add cornstarch to thicken.
- 3
On a lightly greased work surface, flatten a dough ball with the heel of your hand into a circle about 4 inches across. Place about 1 tablespoon of filling in the center, bring the edges of the dough together at the top, and pinch and twist to seal the filling inside. Set each filled dumpling on waxed paper with the pinched seam on the bottom while you finish the remaining dumplings.
- 4
Spray a multi-layered bamboo steamer with cooking spray, set the steamer on top of a large saucepan, and add water to a level several inches below the steamer. Bring the water to a boil.
- 5
In several batches, arrange 3 or 4 filled buns in each steamer layer without letting them touch each other or the sides, cover the steamer, and steam over medium-low heat until puffy and the dough is springy, about 15 minutes per batch. Serve warm.
- Calories 274.66 kcal Moderate 14%
- Protein 12.52 g Good Source 25%
- Carbohydrate 44.14 g 16%
- Total Fat 5.58 g Moderate 7%
- Saturated Fat 0.35 g Low Source 2%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 28.12 mg Moderate 9%
- Sodium 410.48 mg Moderate 18%
- Dietary Fiber 1.79 g Low Source 6%
- Total Sugars 4.67 g --
- Added Sugars 1.0 g Low Source 2%
- Calcium 6.51 mg Low Source 1%
- Iron 0.44 mg Low Source 2%
- Potassium 56.99 mg Low Source 1%
- Vitamin A 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
- Vitamin C 0.06 mg Low Source 0%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Soy 🌱
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Corn 🌽
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Siopao (Filipino Steamed Dumplings) is a Chinese appetizer recipe made with 13 ingredients. It takes about 1 hr 15 mins, serves 15, and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Active Dry Yeast, Butter Flavor Shortening, Cornstarch, and Fully Cooked Chicken Breast. Each serving provides about 274.66 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Siopao (Filipino Steamed Dumplings)?
- It is a Chinese dumpling recipe made with 13 ingredients, usually served for appetizer or dinner or lunch or snack.
- What is Siopao (Filipino Steamed Dumplings) made of?
- The main ingredients are Active Dry Yeast, Butter-Flavor Shortening, Cornstarch, Fully Cooked Chicken Breast, Garlic. The full list of 13 is above.
- What goes well with Siopao (Filipino Steamed Dumplings)?
- Explore these Chinese side-dish recipes.
- How long does it take to make Siopao (Filipino Steamed Dumplings)?
- About 1 hr 15 mins in total: 45 mins to prepare and 30 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 274.66 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Siopao (Filipino Steamed Dumplings) easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 13 ingredients and 5 steps.
- Is Siopao (Filipino Steamed Dumplings) healthy?
- Siopao (Filipino Steamed Dumplings) has an easyChef Pro health score of 37/100. Per serving, it provides 274.66 calories and 12.52 g of protein, or 25% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 410.48 mg (18% of the Daily Value). It contains Soy, Wheat, Gluten, Corn, Garlic and Onions, 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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