How to Make and Steam Bao Buns without a Bamboo Steamer

Want to know how to Make and Steam Bao Buns without a Bamboo Steamer? Do you want to make the most delicious and easiest bao buns ever? I made these without a bamboo steamer and used a regular steamer. They came out light, fluffy and soft. They were SO good. If you have a stand mixer, this will make your life a lot easier.

I made these bao buns with my sesame garlic tofu, and boy, it was worth it!

Head to the recipe below (or watch the video) to see how I cooked this without a bamboo steamer and what you will need.

You will need:

• Regular steamer
• Parchment paper or coffee filters
• Tea towel
• Rubber band or hair tie
• Nonstick cooking spray

Keep reading to see how I steamed these babies!

How to Make and Steam Bao Buns without a Bamboo Steamer

Activate the yeast. Add the warm water and warm milk in a small bowl. Make sure it is not hot when you touch it but warm to the touch. Add the yeast, oil and sugar. Stir and let it sit for 4 minutes.

Create the dough. In a stand mixer, add the flour, baking powder and salt. Using a dough hook, mix until combined. Slowly add in the wet ingredients and knead for 3-5 minutes on medium speed.

Rise the dough. Let the dough sit in a bowl and cover with cling wrap for 2 hours, or until the dough has doubled in size.

Form the buns. You will not need to add more flour like you do with pasta. With a rolling pin, roll out the dough until ⅓ inch thick. With a glass, cup, or round cookie cutter, cut through the dough to form perfect circles and repeat with the rest of the dough. Pull out the dough you won’t use and repeat the same process until you are left with little or no dough.

Form the buns. Lightly brush vegetable oil on the circles and fold in half like a half moon. Press down with your hand so it stays folded. They might fold back out into a circle – those might need extra pressure! Let them rest for another 30 minutes.

Steam the buns. Meanwhile in a wok or steamer, bring water to a boil. If you have a bamboo steamer, use that. If you don’t: Cut parchment paper into squares the size of your buns.  Spray the squares with nonstick cooking spray and place the buns on them and on the steamer. Wrap the lid with a tea towel and, with a rubber band, tie the towel around the handle. Steam the buns for 8 to 12 minutes, depending on the thickness of your dough. Repeat with the rest of the buns. Tip: While you’re steaming the rest of your buns, you can wrap the steamed ones in a clean towel to keep them warm.

Notes on How to Make and Steam Bao Buns without a Bamboo Steamer

• If you use instant yeast, be sure to use 2 ¼ teaspoons and rise time will only be around 30 minutes or until it doubles in size.
• I highly recommend testing the yeast for activity before starting to work on this recipe. Add 1 teaspoon of sugar and 2 ¼ teaspoons of yeast (one envelope) to ¼ cup of warm water. Wait for 10 minutes and if you see foams and bubbles and you smell that yeast aroma, your yeast is still good to go. If not, then you need to get fresh yeast.

How to Make and Steam Bao Buns without a Bamboo Steamer

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★★★★★

5 from 2 reviews

• Author: Maxine Dubois
• Total Time: 2 Hours 42 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings 1x

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Description

Do you want to make the most delicious and easiest bao buns ever? I made these without a bamboo steamer and used a regular steamer. They came out light, fluffy and soft.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• ⅓ cup warm water
• ½ cup warm milk
• 1 tablespoons active dry yeast
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 ½ cups all purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt

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Instructions

1. Activate the yeast. Add the warm water and warm milk in a small bowl. Make sure it is not hot when you touch it but warm to the touch. Add the yeast, oil and sugar. Stir and let it sit for 4 minutes.
2. Create the dough. In a stand mixer, add the flour, baking powder and salt. Using a dough hook, mix until combined. Slowly add in the wet ingredients and knead for 3-5 minutes on medium speed.
3. Rise the dough. Let the dough sit in a bowl and cover with cling wrap for 2 hours, or until the dough has doubled in size.
4. Form the buns. You will not need to add more flour like you do with pasta. With a rolling pin, roll out the dough until ⅓ inch thick. With a glass, cup, or round cookie cutter, cut through the dough to form perfect circles and repeat with the rest of the dough. Pull out the dough you won’t use and repeat the same process until you are left with little or no dough.
5. Form the buns. Lightly brush vegetable oil on the circles and fold in half like a half moon. Press down with your hand so it stays folded. They might fold back out into a circle – those might need extra pressure! Let them rest for another 30 minutes.
6. Steam the buns. Meanwhile in a wok or steamer, bring water to a boil. If you have a bamboo steamer, use that. If you don’t: Cut parchment paper into squares the size of your buns.  Spray the squares with nonstick cooking spray and place the buns on them and on the steamer. Wrap the lid with a tea towel and, with a rubber band, tie the towel around the handle. Steam the buns for 8 to 12 minutes, depending on the thickness of your dough. Repeat with the rest of the buns. Tip: While you’re steaming the rest of your buns, you can wrap the steamed ones in a clean towel to keep them warm.

Notes

• If you use instant yeast, be sure to use 2 ¼ teaspoons and rise time will only be around 30 minutes or until it doubles in size.
• I highly recommend testing the yeast for activity before starting to work on this recipe. Add 1 teaspoon of sugar and 2 ¼ teaspoons of yeast (one envelope) to ¼ cup of warm water. Wait for 10 minutes and if you see foams and bubbles and you smell that yeast aroma, your yeast is still good to go. If not, then you need to get fresh yeast.

• Prep Time: 2 Hours 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 12 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Steaming
• Cuisine: Chinese

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1
• Calories: 96.9
• Sugar: 2.5 g
• Sodium: 90.0 mg
• Fat: 2.5 g
• Saturated Fat: 1.7 g
• Carbohydrates: 16.6 g
• Fiber: 0.6 g
• Protein: 1.9 g
• Cholesterol: 0.0 mg