Nikuman (Steamed Beef Buns)
Description
Nikuman, or steamed meat-filled buns, are a Japanese main dish or appetizer--these are stuffed with a shiitake and ground beef blend for tons of delicious flavor.
Ingredients
•
1 cup milk
•
1/2 cup white sugar
•
1 (16-ounce bag) steamed bun flour
•
1/2 teaspoon salt
•
1 tablespoon olive oil
•
1 pound ground beef
•
1/2 cup diced shiitake mushroom caps
•
1 stalk green onion, diced
•
1 tablespoon cornstarch
•
1 teaspoon white sugar
•
1 teaspoon soy sauce
•
1 teaspoon oyster sauce
•
1 teaspoon sesame oil
•
1/2 teaspoon salt
•
1/8 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
•
1 pinch ground black pepper
Directions
1
Mix milk and sugar for dough together in a bowl. Pour bun flour into another bowl and add gradually the milk mixture, stirring with a spatula.
2
Form the dough into a ball and knead with your hands for about 20 minutes. Add olive oil and knead for 10 minutes more.
3
Transfer dough to a dry bowl, cover with a towel, and let rest for 30 minutes.
4
Combine beef, mushrooms, green onions, cornstarch, sugar, soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, salt, five-spice powder, and pepper in a bowl with your hands until thoroughly mixed. Form the filling into 12 equally sized meatballs.
5
Roll dough on a lightly floured surface and cut into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece out with a rolling pin to a circle, no more than 5 inches in diameter.
6
Cover each meatball with a dough circle, pinching the edges to close.
7
Place a steamer insert into a saucepan and fill with water to just below the bottom of the steamer. Bring water to a boil. Add beef buns, working in batches as needed, cover, and steam until meat is no longer pink, about 45 minutes.