Soft and fluffy bao buns using sourdough starter. These steamed buns make the perfect vessel for sticky pulled meats or jackfruit!
A lovely reader of mine put me on to the idea of sourdough gua bao and I'm so happy about it! While I have been perfecting this recipe, we've been eating them a lot. My favourite filling is sticky pulled jackfruit with five-spice, ginger, garlic, honey and soy sauce.
Gua Bao
Gua Bao are fluffy steamed buns originating from China. They are traditionally filled with pork. In NZ I mostly see them sold as bao buns, but as the word 'bao' literally means bun, so we are essentially saying 'bun buns.'
No matter what you call them, these steamed little breads are so delicious!
They are often made with two rising agents: yeast and baking powder. In this recipe the commercial yeast is replaced with sourdough starter, but I am still keeping the baking powder in there.
I've tried it with and without, and I prefer the added rise of the baking powder boost.
Sourdough Gua Bao
These buns are made over two days. On Day 1 the starter is fed, the dough is mixed and fermented overnight in the fridge. On Day 2, the buns are cut, folded, risen and steamed.
Bao Flour
The flour traditionally used in these buns is low protein bleached white flour that yields brilliantly white, light and fluffy buns.
I'm not using a bleached flour in this recipe though. I'm using an unbleached white all-purpose flour, one with a semi low protein content of around 10% to give a light and fluffy bun. If you're using a stronger flour, with a protein level of 11% and above, it will still work well but you'll end up with a slightly chewier bun.
The Bao Dough + Sourdough Starter
The dough consists mainly of white flour and also corn starch. The starch helps to soften the flour even more. Then there is a little sugar, salt, baking powder oil, water and of course sourdough starter.
(Have no sourdough starter? Learn how to make one here!)
I feed my sourdough starter in the morning. 100g is needed for the dough.
Mixing 50g starter, 50g flour and 50g water (a ratio of 1:1:1), gives a total of 150g starter. This is enough for the dough, and then whatever is left over can be fed for the next time. A starter fed at this ratio should be ready to use within 4 hours.
Once the starter has risen, the dough is mixed. This recipe makes a very thick dough, that needs a bit of hand kneading on the bench to create a soft and smooth ball. About 8 minutes of kneading is enough.
Fermenting the dough
Let the dough rise in a warm spot until it has bulked out by around 50%. You can create a warm and humid spot by placing the dough in a turned-off oven next to a mug of boiled water. This can take around 4 hours in a warm space.
The Next Day - Shaping the Dough
The following day the bao dough is ready to be cut and shaped. These steps can be done in the morning if you want to make the Gua Bao in advance, or in the afternoon. Just ensure you leave about 4 hours of time, so they have time to rise.
Roll the dough out into a large circle, about 5mm thick, and use a circle cutter (I use a drinking glass), to cut out dough circles.
Once you've cut all the circles you can, gather the remaining dough into a ball and leave it to sit and rest for 10 minutes before rolling it out again.
Take a cut-out circle and roll it a bit so you create an oval that's around 3-4mm thick. Lightly dust the oval with flour, then fold it in half and place it on a piece of baking paper. Continue with the remaining dough circles.
This recipe makes between 10-12 buns.
Proofing the Bao
Now the buns need to rise until nearly doubled. This can take around 3-4 hours depending on the room temperature. I pop them in a lightly preheated, then turned off oven to help speed up the rising time.
The buns can be brushed with water to stop them from drying out, or a lightly dampened tea towel can be laid over the top while they rise.
Once risen they should look fat and feel puffy when gently prodded.
Steaming the Sourdough Bao
You'll need a steamer to cook the buns. I use a bamboo steamer that's placed over a saucepan of boiling water.
Cut around the buns on the baking paper so that each bun is on a separate piece. This makes them much easier to lift in and out of the steamer.
Fill a large saucepan or pot with 3-4 cm of water and bring it to a boil.
Place the buns in the steamer 2-4 buns at a time (depending on the size of the steamer.) Add the lid to the steamer, then place it over top of the boiling water. Leave the buns to steam for around 10 minutes.
Take the steamer off the saucepan, then remove the lid and lift out the cooked buns. Repeat these steps with the remaining buns.
Serving and Storing Bao
The bao is best served warm. If making these ahead of time, they can be reheated by being placed back in a steamer for 2-3 minutes until warmed through.
Pry them open along their fold, and then stuff them with your favorite fillings.
They can also be frozen for future use.
Sourdough Bao Buns (Gua Bao)
Soft and fluffy bao buns using sourdough starter. These steamed buns make the perfect vessel for sticky pulled meats or jackfruit!
Ingredients
Sourdough Starter
- 50g starter
- 50g all-purpose flour
- 50g water
Bao Dough
- 300 g all-purpose flour* (with 10% or less protein)
- 100 g sourdough starter
- 30 g cornstarch
- 2 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 30 ml olive oil
- 130 ml warm water
Instructions
- In the morning, feed your sourdough starter. Mixing 50g starter, 50g flour and 50g water (a ratio of 1:1:1), gives a total of 150g starter. This is enough for the dough, and then whatever is left over can be fed for the next time. A starter fed at this ratio should be ready to use within 4 hours.
- Once the starter has risen, mix all the dough ingredients in a large bowl and use a fork to combine it into a shaggy dough. Once you can't mix with the fork anymore, switch to using your hands.
- Combine it all together into a thick and stiff dough. If it's too thick to mix, wet your hands to add a little more water to the mixture. The dough will be very thick. Knead the dough on the bench for around 8 minutes until it is soft and smooth. Form a dough ball.
- Let the dough rise in a warm spot until it has bulked out by around 50%. You can create a warm and humid spot by placing the dough in a turned-off oven next to a mug of boiled water. This can take around 4 hours in a warm space.
- After this rise, cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and place it in the fridge overnight.
The Following Day
- Take the dough from the fridge and leave it to sit at room temperature for 20 minutes, then pull it from the bowl and place it on a clean bench. Roll the dough out into a large circle, about 5mm thick, and use a circle cutter (I use a drinking glass), to cut out dough circles. (Use a little flour to lightly dust the bench if necessary.)
- Once you’ve cut all the circles you can, gather the remaining dough into a ball and leave it to sit and rest for 10 minutes before rolling it out again.
- Take a cut-out circle and roll it a bit to create an oval around 3-4mm thick. Lightly dust the oval with flour, then fold it in half and place it on a piece of baking paper. Continue with the remaining dough circles.
- Now the buns need to rise until nearly doubled. This can take around 3-4 hours depending on the room temperature. I place the tray in a lightly preheated, then turned off oven to help speed up the rising time. The buns can be brushed with water to stop them from drying out, or a lightly dampened tea towel can be laid over the top while they rise.
- Once risen they should look fat and feel puffy when gently prodded. Cut around the risen buns on the baking paper so that each bun is on a separate piece. This makes them much easier to lift in and out of the steamer.
- Fill a large saucepan or pot with 3-4 cm of water and bring it to a boil. Place the buns in the steamer 2-4 buns at a time (depending on the size of the steamer.) Add the lid to the steamer, then place it over top of the boiling water. Leave the buns to steam for around 10 minutes.
- Take the steamer off the saucepan, then remove the lid and lift out the cooked buns. Repeat these steps with the remaining buns.
- The bao are best served warm. If making these ahead of time, they can be reheated by being placed back in a steamer for 2-3 minutes until warmed through. Pry them open along their fold, and then stuff them with your favorite fillings. They can also be frozen for future use.
Notes
The flour traditionally used in these buns is low protein bleached white flour that yields brilliantly white, light, and fluffy buns, however, I use unbleached flour.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1 gramsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 159Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 236mgCarbohydrates: 30gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 4g
Kate Easterbrook says
We love filled bao buns. Can you suggest when would be a good time in the recipe to add the filling? Am just thinking you probably wouldn't want a meat filling sitting round while rising. Thanks
Elien says
Hey Kate,
I would give the bun dough a longer rise on the first day until about doubled in size, then refrigerate it overnight. The next day, let it come to room temperature and then fill and shape the buns and let them sit for around 20-30 minutes before steaming.
You could also skip the fridge proof and feed the starter the night before. That way you can make the dough, let it rise, punch it down and shape it and let the buns rise for 20-30 minutes all on the same day 🙂
Mel says
Curious if I were to freeze these for later at what point you would recommend doing that ? I also have the same question in regards to the scones. Love all your recipes! Thanks so much !
Melanie says
At what point would you freeze them. Can I freeze before steaming ? Thank you!
Elien says
Hey Mel, you can freeze them before steaming after they have risen. And then let them thaw before steaming 🙂 And as for scones, they can go be frozen once shaped and cut and you can bake them from frozen.
Axel says
Hi im having problems on the bulk fermentation . Mi Dough changes color to a lightly grey wile storing on the fridge . What do you recommend ?
Is it the cornstarch or is it another thing ?
Home Grown Happiness says
Hey is the dough covered well when stored in the fridge? The colour can be because of the reaction with the baking powder, but covering the dough tightly can help.