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Pan-fried Pork Buns (Shengjian Bao 生煎包)

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Pan Fried Pork Buns

Wondering if these are steamed buns, not pan-fried buns? They are pan-fried buns (also known as shengjianbao 生煎包). Not joking, it’s real.

Back then when I was up to make these buns and planned to post the recipe on my Chinese food blog, just in time I remembered that some fans had asked me how to wrap and pleat a bun. So I took a video while I did the pleating of a bun. Then I cooked the buns in a frying pan instead of a steamer.

The shengjianbao I tried before in a shanghainese restaurant were round and flat without any pleatings, that looked quite different from mine posted here. Since then, I’ve seen more and more of these pleated buns being served in restaurants. The buns are lined up in a nice and hot oily pan and cooked until the bottoms are very crispy. You might also like to sprinkle some finely chopped spring onions and white sesame seeds on top for garnish. That will make your buns look more attractive.

The texture of these buns is soft and fluffy with a crispy bottom. I like to dip them in some soy sauce with black rice vinegar, whereas my husband likes to have them with extra chilli sauce. Whichever sauce you try, it won’t let you down. The buns taste very delicious on their own though.

Pan-fried Pork Buns (Shengjian Bao 生煎包) Recipe (Printable recipe)

Prep time:
Cook time:
Yield: 8 to 10 buns
pic03

Ingredients:
  • 200 gm plain flour
  • 110 gm water
  • ½ tsp instant dry yeast
  • 1½ tsp sugar
  • 1 tsp oil
Fillings:
  • 200 gm pork mince
  • 100 gm chives, finely chopped
Seasonings:
  • 1 Tbsp light soy sauce
  • ½ tsp sugar
  • 1 tsp corn flour / corn starch
  • ½ tsp chicken powder
  • 2 tsp water
  • pepper, to taste
  • salt, to taste
Pan Fried Bun Procedures

Method:
  1. To prepare the fillings: Mix the pork mince with the seasonings. Stir towards only one direction. Add chives. Cover and chill in fridge for about 30 minutes.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, pour in water. Mix in yeast. Add sugar, salt and oil. Sift in flour. Use a spatula to combine all the ingredients. Knead into a smooth dough and the surface is not sticky. Transfer into a greased bowl, covered. Rest for 10 minutes.
  3. Transfer the dough onto a clean surface. Roll it into a long tube. Cut into 8 to 10 equal portions. Roll each portion into a ball shape. Flatten with your palm and roll each into a disc with a rolling pin. Wrap a spoonful filling inside, pinch the seam as the video shown below. Repeat this step to finish all the remaining dough disc. Cover and rest at room temperature for 10 minutes.
  4. Heat oil in a non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat. Place the buns in one single layer. Fry them for about 2 to 3 minutes. Pour in boiling water, up to 1½cm in depth. (Remark: Cook in batches if your pan is not large enough.) Cover and cook until the water starts to dry up. Remove the lid and continue to cook until the bottom of buns are golden brown. Serve immediately.


Notes:
  • You can replace with any vegetables you like, or skip it, only use meat.
  • It’s no need to blanch the chives. Simply chop them finely and mix well with the pork. By doing so, the nutrients and all flavours are retained. It’s a great found by a lazy person, myself.

42 comments :

  1. These pan-fried pork buns look perfect! I look forward to making them. Thank you for the detailed recipe. Have a great day! :)

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  2. I'm a little confused. So after you fry them for a few mins, are you supposed to pour the water right into the frying pan? If so, do you cover the frying pan? Doesn't the water make the bottoms soggy? Thanks, Susan

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    1. Good question.
      By adding boiling water to cook the buns with cover, you're very sure the pork inside will be cooked through.
      We have to cook until the water starts to dry up. Then remove the lid and continue to cook one to two more minutes or so, the bottom will become crisp.
      I've updated the recipe. Hope the instructions are clearer.

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  3. Can you steam the buns instead of frying it? If so, how long would you steam it for?

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    Replies
    1. Yes, you can steam the buns in a wok or a steamer, over medium-high heat for about 12 to 15 minutes. You might take out a bun to see if it's cooked through or not.

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  4. I am HUNGRY! These pork buns are fantastic, Christine.

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  5. So kind of you to share this recipe. Bookmarked!

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  6. why do we need to use yeast when we do not go through the process of rising the dough??

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    1. In Method 2 & 3, we let the dough rest for 10 minutes, it's proofing in fact. The yeast will do its job inside the dough.
      As we don't need to double the size of the buns, the resting time of 10 minutes at room temperature is enough. That's the texture we are looking for.

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  7. hi. can i freeze this bun? do I need to cook before freeze?
    i saw your video about how to wrap the bun. it seem very easy to wrap. but when i wrap my buns, it turns so ugly. haha.

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    Replies
    1. I often cook the buns then freeze them. Whenever I need them, simply reheat them again.

      No worries. Practice makes perfect. Try several times, you'll get there.

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  8. Hi Christine, your recipes are awesome and so easy to follow! I've made your tangzhong breads, butter and lemon cookies, daan taats, and more, and they have all turned out wonderfully. I get so many compliments and you are the source of such delicious home-cooked foods. As an ABC, I especially love that your recipes are a perfect collection of east meets west, traditional and modern :) Do you have any recipes to make other dim sum and restaurant favorites like: baak tong gou (white sugar steamed cake), yau tieu (fried Chinese donuts), mantou (steamed white buns), or West Lake soup? Or more specialty Cantonese dishes like pork blood with chives, porridge with liver/seafood, beef tendon noodle soup? Many thanks, and keep the recipes coming so that these great dishes may continued to be created and enjoyed at home for many generations to come! :D

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    Replies
    1. Very glad that you loved my recipes.
      For beef tendon, I've already published on this blog. Please use the search box on top and you'll get it. West Lake soup is in my cookbook.
      For others, I'll post to share if I make them.

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  9. Hi Christine, tried making your pan-fried pau yesterday and it turned out great! Many thanks for your great receipe. Do you happened to have wonderful receipe for hong Kong style pau and Turamisu? Tks!! Irene

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    1. Yes, I've got several recipes of Chinese buns and Tiramisu. It's very handy and quick to find and get the recipes by using the search box on top of this blog.

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  10. Thanks for the video!! I love these buns!

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  11. These look like tasty little gifts, they are so nicely wrapped!

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  12. Dear Christine,
    Can I prepare the dough in the bread machine? Thanks for all the scrumptious recipes!
    Priscilla

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  13. Hi Christine, I ended up kneading the dough in the bread machine. It worked! =) Unfortunately, I didn't manage to make the bun wrapped up properly, so I ended up flattened the buns and fried them on both sides. I also sprinkled some sesame seeds on top. They were very tasty.

    I now have 6 flattened buns left. Can I wrap them up in parchment paper inside a freezer bag then place them in the freezer? Thanks for your tips!

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    Replies
    1. Hi, good try though.
      Practice makes things perfect. You'll get there very soon.
      I use to freeze the cooked buns and put them in a plastic bag. When I need them, just steam them in a wok and then I have hot and nice buns.

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    2. Hi Christine, I will try again today. Thank you for your reply and your encouragement! =)

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  14. Thank you so much for the recipe. My family (especially my mum in law) loves to order 生煎包 at Shanghai restaurants. It'll be super amazing to be able to make this at home!

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  15. Hi Christine,
    Do I need to let the dough rest and double up like the way of making "man-tou" or "qua-pao"?

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  16. Hi Christine, thanks for posting this recipe! I've made it quite a few times and the buns are always beautiful. I also like to make them with a spicy lamb and onion filling, which my family enjoys :-)

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    1. Hi Rebecca,
      Glad that you liked this bun recipe. It's quite versatile. You can use any fillings you like.

      Enjoy !

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  17. Hi Christine,truly this my first time to know about pan fried bun..I like to make them familiar to me n my family..

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    Replies
    1. These buns are so tasty with crispy bottoms. Give it a try. I think you'll like it.

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  18. Hi Christine, I've made these 2X now. The recipe is so versatile for any kind of filling and the buns come out perfectly each time. Last night's version had minced Chinese mushroom, 5-spice, and an armload of kale from the garden (steamed, squeezed dry, then chopped fine). Delicious! Your recipes are wonderful for CBC'ers like myself. Thank you very much.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for your feedback and your love of this steamed bun recipe.
      I love your idea of making the filling too. Very balanced and delicious.


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  19. I have lived in Shanghai for about a year and a half and Sheng Jian are by far my favorite food here! Thank you for the recipe.... Now that I'm going back to the States, I can't wait to introduce my friends to these little treats!!

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    1. Thanks for introducing my recipe. Happy cooking !

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  20. your recipes are so amazing, thank you, please keep on sharing. they never fail me and my family is so happy.

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  21. I can't find real Shengjian pans. Do you know what they are called or where to find some. They look like large round cast iron with raised edges. They oftem have a wood cover. Any ideas?

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    Replies
    1. Hi Jah-Shua,
      I know what you're looking for. It's very difficult to find that kind of large old-fashioned pan. Sorry, no idea.

      Delete
  22. I made these but no soup inside ;(

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    Replies
    1. Hi Keith,
      I feel your disappointment.
      Did you expect some soup inside your buns like Xiao Lung Bao. It shouldn't be like that.

      Delete
  23. Another great recipe Christine! I made these today and they are soo good. I have to stop myself from eating them. My first baos ever!!

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  24. Congrats on your first attempt to make baos. Homemade baos are the best.

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