Ingredients
450 g (3 3/4 cups) plain (all-purpose) flour
2 tbsp caster sugar
½ tsp salt
2 tsp (equivalent to one packet or 7g) instant dried yeast
3 tbsp whole milk
210 ml (3/4 cup + 2 tbsp) warm water
3 tbsp unsalted butter, very soft
1 tbsp olive oil
4 chicken breasts, sliced into bite-size chunks
240 ml (1 cup) buttermilk
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp white pepper
¼ tsp garlic salt
180 g (1 1/2 cups) plain (all-purpose) flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground black pepper
½ tsp garlic salt
½ tsp celery salt
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp chili flakes
Vegetable oil for deep frying (at least 1 litre/four cups)
2 tbsp gochujang paste
2 tbsp honey
4 tbsp brown sugar
4 tbsp soy sauce
2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
2 tsp minced ginger
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tbsp sesame oil
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
¼ cucumber, chopped into small pieces
Small bunch of fresh coriander (cilantro), roughly chopped
2 tsp black and white sesame seeds
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix the flour, sugar, salt, and yeast together. In a separate jug, stir the milk, warm water, and butter until the butter has melted. Add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients and stir with a spoon, then knead with your hands until smooth. Alternatively, use a mixer with a dough hook. Let the dough rest in an oiled bowl, covered with a tea towel or cling film, for 90 minutes to 2 hours until doubled in size.
- In a bowl, combine the buttermilk, salt, white pepper, and garlic salt. Add the chicken chunks and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour to marinate.
- After the dough has doubled in size, divide it into 20 balls. Roll each ball into an oval shape, about 6cm x 9cm. Brush with olive oil, then fold each oval over itself, placing a chopstick in the middle to create a fold. Remove the chopstick and place each bun on a small piece of baking parchment. Cover with cling film or a carrier bag and let prove for another hour.
- Heat oil in a large pan or deep fat fryer. Mix together the crispy coating ingredients. Dip each piece of marinated chicken into the coating, making sure it’s fully covered. Fry the chicken in batches for 3-5 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Keep the cooked chicken warm in a preheated oven.
- Meanwhile, bring water to a boil in a large steamer pan. Place the buns in the steamer (on the baking parchment) and steam for 10 minutes until puffed up.
- In a saucepan, combine the gochujang, honey, brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, vegetable oil, and sesame oil. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 5 minutes until thickened.
- Toss the crispy chicken in the sauce. Open the steamed buns and stuff them with the chicken. Top with red onion, cucumber, fresh coriander, and sesame seeds before serving.
Notes
- Make the bao buns ahead of time and store them in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
- For a spicier version, increase the chili flakes or add extra gochujang paste to the sauce.
- For a vegetarian version, substitute the chicken with crispy tofu or mushrooms.
- Both the bao buns and chicken can be frozen. Reheat by steaming or in the oven.
- For the crispiest chicken, avoid covering it when reheating.
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Main Course
- Method: Frying, Steaming
- Cuisine: Korean, Asian Fusion
- Diet: Halal
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bao bun
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 35mg