Chinese Steamed Buns

I enjoyed many variations of steamed buns while growing up – some were plain, some were filled with bright red pork filling, others looked like works of art. They were especially ubiquitous during the time my French mother was in her Chinese phase (see Growing up Foodie,) which was a mostly wonderful culinary experience for our family.

But I never knew the extent of the magic created in a bamboo steamer until my husband and I went to our first dim sum restaurant. This was in San Francisco’s Chinatown, 30+ years ago. It was a busy, bustling restaurant, full of people who spoke non-English. Waiters pushed little carts around tightly-placed tables and it was a bit unsettling. This is what the insides of the carts look like:

We weren’t sure what to do, so we kept pointing at food and nodding, because everything looked so good. There must have been at least 200 different items from which to choose. Maybe even more. We were so excited, hungry, and a little nervous, that I think we ended up with food for a dozen people. Knowing us, we probably finished it all.

This recipe for steamed buns is my one of my husband’s favorite things to eat. He asks for them as part of his birthday dinner, like he did last week. The dough is a basic bread dough, and the filling is Chinese sausage. It’s a recipe my mother created, because of her love of Chinese sausage. Try it in soups and omelets. It’s a bit greasy, but wonderful!

You can double the recipe, but it’s tricky unless you have two steamers.

Bread Dough

1 tablespoon yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
1 cup warm milk, at about 110 degrees
3 1/2 cups white flour

Heat 1/4 cup of water in a large bowl to approximately 110 degrees; if you can put your finger in the water and hold it there, it’s hot enough. Sprinkle on the yeast and sugar, and let it sit for a few minutes.

Then stir up the mixture, place it in a non-drafty part of your kitchen, and let it sit for 5 minutes; it will have doubled in volume.

Stir in the warm milk, then add 3 cups of flour. Mix as much as you can with a spoon. Then turn out the dough on your work area and, using flour only as necessary, knead the dough until it is smooth. This should take about 5 minutes. Don’t add too much flour – just enough to keep the dough from sticking.

Form the dough into a ball, and place it in a clean, greased bowl. Cover the bowl with a damp towel, then put the bowl in a warm, draft-free place for about 1 1/2 hours.

It will have doubled in bulk. Punch down the dough, and let it rest about 20 minutes.

To Prepare the Steamed Buns filled with Chinese Sausage

Have about 7 ounces of sliced Chinese sausage on hand, as well as toasted sesame oil.

Turn the dough out onto the work area. Roll the dough into a cylinder, and divide the dough evenly into 12 pieces. Form each piece of dough into a disc, about 3 1/2″ in diameter. Sprinkle a few drops of sesame oil in the middle of the disc, and then top with some sausage slices.

Pull up all four sides of the disc, then squeeze them together and twist to seal the dough. I’m not really good at this part….

As you make the buns, place them in a steamer basket that has been oiled. Or, alternatively, cut out squares of parchment paper and spray those with oil to keep the buns from sticking, placing them underneath the buns. Just make sure the steam can move around the steamer basket. When you have finished making all twelve buns, let them rise in the steamer basket.

There are also liners with holes that you can buy to fit into your steamer baskets.

Meanwhile, bring a wok or pot of water to a boil on the stove, with the water level with the bottom of the steamer basket. After the buns have risen for about 20-30 minutes, turn the water down to a simmer, then place the steamer basket in the wok. After about 10-12 minutes, check the buns; the dough should be firm. If they are sticky, keep steaming another minute or two, then turn off the heat and remove the lid.

Remove them as soon as you can from the steamer basket and let cool slightly. Then enjoy! They’re soft and the most fragrant while warm.

Here’s a panorama iphone pic of a dim sum restaurant we went to in New York City in 2017. It truly is as big as it looks!

I encourage everyone to enjoy dim sum at a reputable Chinese restaurant. There’s always chicken feet – for the hard to please!

By Published On: February 16th, 201853 Comments on Chinese Steamed Buns

About the Author: Chef Mimi

As a self-taught home cook, with many years in the culinary profession, I am passionate about all things food-related. Especially eating!

53 Comments

  1. Choc Chip Uru January 18, 2013 at 1:53 PM - Reply

    These buns look heavenly :D

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

  2. Iris January 18, 2013 at 3:32 PM - Reply

    I looove Chinese steamed buns. Especially the one with char siu in them, though Chinese sausage sounds good too. You make it look so easy to make them at home…I might have to try one day!

  3. ChgoJohn January 18, 2013 at 7:40 PM - Reply

    I’ve just become aware of steamed bread and yours sounds delicious! Love the idea of a sausage filling and can see where other fillings would work, too. And you’re right. These are easy to prepare. Gotta love that!

    • chef mimi January 20, 2013 at 10:51 AM - Reply

      Thanks! Yeah, they’re really easy if you have any experience with yeast.

  4. delectablediction March 13, 2013 at 9:38 AM - Reply

    Don’t know why I didn’t see this recipe before ~ after all the searching, and it was here all along!

  5. Jodi February 16, 2018 at 6:59 AM - Reply

    so fascinating. I’ve never tried to make, but had some wonderful ones in Seattle several years ago. I will be looking for a good local dim sum restaurant. I am sure there must be one in Pittsburgh.

    • chef mimi February 16, 2018 at 7:47 AM - Reply

      Seattle was where my mother began her Chinese phase! I’m positive there’s some kind of Chinese community in Pittsburgh!

      • Jodi February 17, 2018 at 8:03 AM

        Oh yes!

  6. canelakitchen February 16, 2018 at 8:36 AM - Reply

    Love these Mimi, looks awesome, I have to try these!! xo

    • chef mimi February 17, 2018 at 2:44 PM - Reply

      They’re so good, especially just out of the steamer!

  7. Gerlinde February 16, 2018 at 8:45 AM - Reply

    I live near San Francisco and love to go for Dim Sum. You inspire me to try this recipe.

    • chef mimi February 17, 2018 at 2:44 PM - Reply

      I know you do and I’m so jealous!

  8. Linda Duffin February 16, 2018 at 9:36 AM - Reply

    I can eat my own not inconsiderable body weight in dim sum. I really miss being able to nip into London’s Chinatown since we moved to the sticks … I’ll have to follow your family example and make my own. Lx

    • chef mimi February 17, 2018 at 2:44 PM - Reply

      Well unfortunately I can only make two varieties of dim sum…

      • Linda Duffin February 18, 2018 at 4:44 AM

        That’s two more than me! :)

  9. anotherfoodieblogger February 16, 2018 at 9:42 AM - Reply

    The dough-making part is not nearly as hard as I would have thought! We obviously don’t have a Chinese district in my little PNW neck of the woods, but we do have a dim sum dumpling food cart in town!

    • chef mimi February 17, 2018 at 2:45 PM - Reply

      The dough is just like any other dough. It’s just the steaming that makes the buns so different in texture.

  10. Angela@grapegravy​ February 16, 2018 at 11:55 AM - Reply

    Those look amazing! I’ve never had them with sausage, only BBQ pork. Sounds so yummy.

    • chef mimi March 1, 2018 at 9:15 AM - Reply

      I like the BBQ pork also, just not the red food coloring!

  11. Our Growing Paynes February 16, 2018 at 12:05 PM - Reply

    I’ve never had dim sum but I see I need to add it to my food bucket list. The restaurant sounds like so much fun as well.

    • chef mimi March 1, 2018 at 9:15 AM - Reply

      Oh you definitely must. It’s an experience!

  12. cynthia | what a girl eats February 16, 2018 at 2:37 PM - Reply

    Char siu bao is one of my favorite forms of dim sum! When I was in cooking school in San Francisco, the chef/teacher for Chinese week taught us how to make buns and then took us on a walking tour of Chinatown to show us how to buy the best ingredients! So fun to make at home!

    • chef mimi February 16, 2018 at 2:50 PM - Reply

      Oh how fabulous! I love San Francisco. And dim sum!

  13. David February 16, 2018 at 11:36 PM - Reply

    I love those little Chinese sausages! I have never had steamed buns in all the times I have had dim sum! It’s about time!

    • chef mimi February 17, 2018 at 6:46 AM - Reply

      Really? Well, there’s just so much. And the dumplings are just so good.

  14. Michelle February 17, 2018 at 8:24 AM - Reply

    We’re on Dim Sum Weekend II here. Once we get started, it’s hard to stop!

    • chef mimi February 17, 2018 at 8:26 AM - Reply

      Until your stomach gets so distended you’re in pain!

  15. Debra Eliotseats February 17, 2018 at 9:32 AM - Reply

    Thank you for this recipe. We visited a local dim sum restaurant on a whim a few years ago. Few spoke English there as well and because we certainly looked like we didn’t know what we were doing, there were certain dishes they refused to let us try. :)

    • chef mimi February 17, 2018 at 9:46 AM - Reply

      There were?!! Like the chicken feet???!!!

  16. kunstkitchen February 17, 2018 at 10:16 AM - Reply

    Mimi, such a wonderful memory of San Francisco, which I had too with a colleague from Taiwan, who invited me to dim Sum in China Town.

    • chef mimi February 17, 2018 at 11:15 AM - Reply

      That must have been really wonderful!

  17. Susan (@savoringtime) February 17, 2018 at 11:16 AM - Reply

    A wonderful story about your mother and of that San Francisco restaurant. Your steamed buns must be delicious. I have to admit I like the ones from Costco but I’d love to try home made or those at a dim Sum restaurant. Great tutorial!

    • chef mimi February 17, 2018 at 11:23 AM - Reply

      Thank you Susan!

  18. Jeff the Chef February 17, 2018 at 7:39 PM - Reply

    What an interesting culinary childhood you had. I loved steamed buns, but have never seen a recipe for them.

    • chef mimi February 17, 2018 at 7:40 PM - Reply

      Yeah, it was pretty different. I was such a snob when i went to college and people were making pizzas with English f’ing muffins???

  19. Daniel M. Pliska February 18, 2018 at 7:03 AM - Reply

    Great post – Love Dim Sum and steamed buns.

    • chef mimi February 18, 2018 at 7:04 AM - Reply

      Dim sum is a wonderful thing! It’s not just food, it’s an experience.

  20. cookingwithauntjuju.com February 18, 2018 at 12:35 PM - Reply

    My bamboo steamer is still packed away from moving last Spring – guess I better find it! The Chinese sausage must be spicy – I will have to see if I can find it.

    • chef mimi February 18, 2018 at 2:23 PM - Reply

      It’s not spicy, but very flavorful. I used to have a wonderful large steamer, but after so many years of use, it fell apart. It’s replacement is a two tier, smaller version. It still fits in my wok, but I miss having a larger one. Maybe I should start looking now!

  21. Tandy | Lavender and Lime February 18, 2018 at 11:53 PM - Reply

    Steamed buns are on my list of recipes to try this year :)

    • chef mimi February 19, 2018 at 6:11 AM - Reply

      Oh they’re fun. And super easy.

  22. myhomefoodthatsamore February 19, 2018 at 8:13 AM - Reply

    Your husband is a lucky man (but we already knew that) … Deeelicious, thank you for this recipe. And happy new year of the Dog !

    • chef mimi March 1, 2018 at 9:16 AM - Reply

      Yes, he definitely is. He’s the only one who doesn’t realize it!

  23. Bill February 20, 2018 at 5:51 AM - Reply

    As funny as it might sound, it never occurred to me to make these myself. Now I will have to try it, so thank you. They look so good.

    • chef mimi February 20, 2018 at 6:19 AM - Reply

      If you bake bread, which I’m sure you do, you’ll find the ingredients and process exactly the same. It’s just the steaming that turns them into magnificent dim sum!

  24. Ron February 21, 2018 at 7:19 AM - Reply

    What a great story of discovering dim sum. My first experience with dim sum was very similar to yours, except mine was about 31 years ago and was in Chinatown-Vancouver BC. I remember when they brought the steamed chicken feet around. I thought my father was going to have to leave the table.
    Making homemade dumplings is fun and so much better than store bought. Thanks for the fine post.

    • chef mimi February 21, 2018 at 7:37 AM - Reply

      Hahahaha! I know, those chicken feet! I’m ashamed to say that I’ve never had them!

  25. Greg Henry (@sippitysup) February 22, 2018 at 5:20 PM - Reply

    How wonderful to have this exotic recipe from your very own mother. I love dim sum and it is a regular part of my life but I’ve never attempted any of the delicacies you see in those carts. Well done. GREG

    • chef mimi February 22, 2018 at 7:38 PM - Reply

      Well I’ve only attempted two. Definitely never frying chicken feet in my kitchen….

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