Hello Foodie Friends,
August 22nd is National Bao Bun Day: Celebration of a Delicious Tradition.
National Bao Bun Day was founded in 2017 by Wow Bao, a restaurant chain that specializes in bao. They chose August 22 because it was the day that their first restaurant opened in Chicago in 2003.
Bao buns are steamed bread-like dumplings that are filled with various savory or sweet ingredients. They are a popular snack or meal in many Asian cuisines, especially Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, and Japanese.
Bao buns have a long history that dates back to the third century AD, when they were invented by a military strategist named Zhuge Liang. He used them to feed his soldiers during a campaign in southern China.
Bao buns are also known by different names, such as baozi, mantou, nikuman, hirata bun, and gua bao. They can be made with different types of dough, such as wheat flour, rice flour, or even purple yam. The fillings can vary from meat, vegetables, eggs, cheese, to fruits, nuts, chocolate, and ice cream.
Bao buns are not only tasty but also nutritious and easy to make, today I´ll share with you a home recipe to make Bao Buns:
Bao Bun Home Recipe
This recipe will yield about 12 buns. Feel free to customize the filling according to your preferences.
Ingredients for the dough:
- 2 1/4 teaspoons (1 packet) active dry yeast
- 1 cup warm water (around 110°F or 45°C)
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Ingredients for the filling: Char siu (barbecued pork), vegetables, tofu, or other desired fillings.
Instructions for making the Dough:
In a small bowl, combine the warm water and active dry yeast. Let it sit for about 5-10 minutes until the mixture becomes frothy.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, and salt.
Gradually pour the yeast mixture into the dry ingredients, stirring as you go.
Add the vegetable oil to the mixture and continue to knead until the dough comes together.
Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead for about 5-7 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic.
Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover it with a damp cloth or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1-2 hours, or until it has doubled in size.
Assembling and Steaming:
Once the dough has risen, punch it down to release any air bubbles.
Divide the dough into 12 equal portions and shape each portion into a smooth ball.
Flatten each ball with your palm to create a circle about 4 inches in diameter. Leave the edges slightly thicker than the center.
Place a spoonful of your desired filling in the center of each circle.
Gather the edges of the circle and pinch them together to seal the bun, creating a pleated effect at the top.
Place each filled bun on a small square of parchment paper and arrange them on a steamer tray, leaving space between them to expand during steaming.
Cover the buns with a clean kitchen towel and let them rest for about 15-20 minutes to rise slightly.
Steam the buns over boiling water for about 15 minutes, or until they are puffy and cooked through.
Carefully remove the buns from the steamer and serve them warm.
Enjoy!
National Bao Bun Day is a great opportunity to appreciate and enjoy this amazing food that has been part of many cultures for centuries. Whether you are a fan of bao buns or want to try them for the first time, join the celebration and treat yourself to some bao buns today!
Savor Our City is happy to invite you to Join us on a 3-hour culinary tour through the heart of Orlando’s East Asian culinary scene in the crossroads of the Mills 50 district.
Guests on our brand-new Asian Street Foods tour will have an opportunity to sample a variety of tastings at 8 different stops including a delicious braised short rib, Bao Bun.
For more info on this tour, contact info@savorourcity.com.
Until we eat again…
I send you Delicious Wishes, xo
Denise
