Siopao (Filipino Steamed Buns)

Prep time: 30 min
Servings: 16
Yield: 16 servings

Description

Make the best siopao, popular Filipino steamed buns, with this recipe for the perfect fluffy, chewy dough that's relatively quick to rise.

Ingredients

3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 (1/4 ounce) package active dry yeast
1 cup lukewarm water
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vegetable oil, or as needed

Directions

1 Mix flour, sugar, salt, and yeast together in a large bowl. Add water and 1/4 cup oil; mix into a dough. Knead until smooth and elastic, at least 10 minutes. Dust with extra flour if necessary.
2 Warm up the oven for 1 minute. Turn oven off.
3 Oil a large bowl; place dough inside and cover with cheesecloth. Place in the warmed oven until size has doubled, about 1 hour.
4 Punch down dough. Keep in the oven until risen, at least 15 minutes more. Knead dough onto a flat work surface and divide into 12 golf-sized balls. Roll out each ball and fill with choice of filling (see footnote for my chicken and pork filling). Gather and twist the edges together to secure the filling.
5 Place each siopao on a 3x3-inch piece of wax paper.
6 Place siopao in a steamer and steam for 30 minutes.