Banh Bao aka Vietnamese Steam Buns

I’m getting good at this already.

I brought some buns to work today. I shared 1 with my boss and to my surprise, she loved it. She’s a very picky eater and if she approved my Viet buns, that means I passed with flying stars.

I told her I’ll make some extra for her next time and she readily agreed to it without any kind of hesitation. I told her hubby loved this Vietnamese steamed buns more than the Chinese bbq buns. She said this is her first time eating the Viet buns and she really like it.  

My third time came out a success. Everything is perfect and I’m so happy for my own self.

Recipe:
3 cups self rising (Gold Medal) flour
5 eggs
2 Chinese sausages
1/2 lb ground beef
1/2 white onion
Cilantro
Green onions
Peas and carrots
Black fungus
1/4 jicama
Milk
1 packet of Alsa powder

Makes 10 buns 

Soak 2 shiitake mushroom in hot water for 5 mins then drain to dry 

Step 1: Prepare Dough

Warm 3 soupspoon milk,  add 1 tsp yeast then stir well ( from 1 cup)

1. In a glass bowl, pour in 3 cups of flour
2. Add 1 packet of Alsa powder
3. 1 cup of Sugar
4. 1/2 tsp salt
5. 1 soupspoon vinegar into flour and 3 tablespoon into boiling water (steamer)
6. 1 cup of milk, stir well then pour into flour 
7. Add 1 1/2 tablespoon Crisco shortening
8. knead flour well and let sit to rest for 1 hr

Step 2: 
1. Add vinegar into water the. Boil 5 eggs for 20 mins 
2. Boil 2 sausages for 15 mins

Step 3:prepare ingredients 

1. Dice 1/2 white onion 
2.  Chop cilantro and green onion
3. Chop black fungus 
4. Cut boiled eggs in half
5. Cut Chinese sausage into 5 pieces
6. Chop 1cup jicama
7. 1/2 tsp black pepper (preference)

Step 4: prepare meat, turn on high heat to start the steaming process 

1. In a bowl, add ground beef
2. 1 tsp sesame oil 
3. 1 tsp chicken powder
4. Pour in 1/2 cup diced white onion
5. Add chopped cilantro and green onion
6. Add peas and carrots
7. Add black fungus (preference)
8. Mix all ingredient together
9. Roll meat into 10 ball size then steam meat for 15 minutes then put aside to cool off 

Step 5: wrap towel around lid to prevent water from trickling onto buns during steaming process 
1. After 1hour, knead dough again and cut in half
2. Knead and prepare buns (4 buns in steamer each time) 
3. Put stuffing in buns and let sit for another 30 mins to rise 
4. steam for another 20 minutes