How to Make Siopao
Friday, June 02, 2006 A lot of search for siopao recipe has landed on this site. Well, I guess more Pinoys are interested with this kind of business. Proof is stands and carts selling cheap siopao are mushrooming all over because Filipinos love the dimsum. It takes little more than a steamer to start in the business though, but the art of making siopao is the main factor.
This additional post for other preparations and cooking methods will surely satisfy the searcher.
SIOPAO RECIPE - Method #1
Ingredients:
6 cups flour1 package active dry yeast1 lb cubed pork loin or chicken thighs1 cup white sugar2 teaspoons cooking oil1 cup lukewarm water1/2 cup boiling water6 hard-boiled eggs2 green onions4 teaspoons light soy sauce4 teaspoons brown sugar4 teaspoons oyster sauce1 teaspoon cornstarch, dissolved in 2 t. water2 cloves garlic3 teaspoons salt6 teaspoons baking powderProcedures:
Mix flour, salt and baking powder in a medium bowl, set aside.In another bowl dissolve yeast in luke warm water then add 1 cup of the flour mixture.Mix thoroughly.Cover with a cloth and let rise 1 hour.Meanwhile, dissolve the white sugar in the boiling water.Stir well then let cool to luke warm.Pour into the yeast mixture, then add the rest of the prepared flour mixture.Stir to blend well.Grease a large bowl.Turn dough out onto a floured board and knead for 3 minutes-you want your dough smooth, not sticky.Place ball into bowl, turn once and cover with a damp cloth.Let rise 2 hours or until doubled.Meanwhile saute the garlic and onions in a small amount of oil in a wok.Add meat and stir fry for 1 minute or until meat is no longer pink.Add soy sauce, oyster sauce and brown sugar.Pour in the dissolved cornstarch and stir fry quickly until meat is glazed well.Remove from heat and let cool.Punch down dough and knead on a floured board for 3 to 5 minutes.Divide dough and roll each half into a 12x2 inch log.Cut each into 12 pieces, making 24.Roll each piece into a ball using your hands then rolling it flat into a 3 inch diameter circle.Dust with flour if needed to prevent sticking.Place 1 slice of egg into center of dough round, then 1 T. of filling with sauce.Gather sides of round, pinch together and twist.Place pinched side down on parchment paper and place in steamer.Repeat until done.Cover with a damp cloth and let rise for 1 hour.Steam Siopao for 20 minutes.You can freeze cooked Siopao, simply re-steam for 10 minutes.
SIOPAO RECIPE - Method #2
Ingredients :
3 c. All purpose flour3 tsps, yeast1 1/2 c. luke warm water4 tbsp. Sugar1/2 c. shortening ( crisco)1 tsp. saltPreparation:
Dissolve yeast in luke warm water.When dissolved, add sugar and 2-1/2 c. flour to make a soft sponge. Beat thouroughlySet aside to rise until double in bulk. ( 20 - 30 minutes).Add remainining flour and 1/4 cup shortening, and mix well. Knead until smoothDivide dough into 24-36 pieces depending on desired sizeForm into balls. Set asideFilling:
1/2 k pork or chicken (cut into small pieces or coarsely ground) 1 c. onion (chopped)1 clove Garlic (chopped finely)3 tbsps. soy sauce3 tbsp. Hoi sin sauce (can be fine at Oriental store)3 tbsp. Sesame oil (or crisco is fine)1/2 cup water2 tbsp. sugar1/2 tsp. ground pepper6 hard boiled eggs (cut in slice or cubes)1 tsp. MSG (if prefered)Filling PreparationProcedures:
Saute garlic, onion in a sesame oil (or Crisco)Add pork or chickenCook till lightly brownAdd water, soy sauce, hoi sin sauce, sugar, ground pepper, (MSG), and corn starch (or corn flour)Stir until sauce boilsReduce heat and simmer uncovered for 2 minutesRemove pan from heatAdd hard boiled eggsLet cool for 5 minutesFilling the dough:
Take each ball of dough and roll out on floured surface.Place one round of dough in palm of hand.Put one table spoon of filling in center of siopao dough.Press edges of dough together.Take the 2 ends of bun, bring them up over the pinched edge and twist together firmly.Cut 12 pieces of greaseproof paper (wax paper) Into 2 inches square.Brush oneside lightly with oil.Place a bun upside down, so the smooth rounded side is uppermost, on each oiled piece of paper.Steam siopao dough for 20 minutes.
CHA SIOPAO (Cantonese Style Roast Pork Asado Siopao)
Authentic Cantonese siopao from chef Henry Cheung of The Good Earth Restaurant, and his authentic Cantonese, also known as Hong Kong-style, Cha Siopao recipe.
Ingredients:
1-1/2 cup high gluten, high protein, first class or bread flour1-1/2 cup low gluten, cake flour or third-class flour (use cake flour for whiter dough)6 g active dry yeast3/4 tsp baking powder4 tsp ammonia bicarbonate (to smoothen dough)1 cup warm waterProcedures:
Combine yeast, ammonia and warm water. Mix flours and make a well. Pour yeast mixture in the center of the well and slowly incorporate mixture. Once the mixture is solid enough to handle, knead until smooth.
Grease bowl and put the dough, cover with cling wrap. Let it rise until the dough has doubled in size. Remove dough from bowl, put on a flat surface and sprinkle with all-purpose flour on top.
Mix baking powder with dough and knead until smooth. Roll dough to 2-inch round and 12-inch long baton/log. Set dough aside.
Cha Siu filling: (roast pork filling, good for 900 g of dough)
400 g Chinese roast pork, diced (available in Chinese restaurants)
Sauce for filling:
3/4 c low gluten flour1/3 c scallion, chopped1/3 c ginger root, pounded3 tbsp salad oilA.
1 c water
3 tbsp sugar
2/3 tsp chicken powder
1/2 tsp red vinegar
B.
1 tbsp oyster sauce
1 tbsp Chinese soy sauce
1 tsp sesame oil
2/3 tbsp salad oil
white bond paper cut to size
Sift the flour, set aside. Pour in salad oil in pan and add scallions and ginger, saute. Drain oil. In a bowl, combine flour, scallions and ginger. Put mixture A in a saucepan and bring it to a boil. Take the mixture off the fire and combine with flour mixture to form a paste. Combine roast pork and B together, mix well. Combine A and B. Divide the dough and filling into equal portions and wrap filling in dough. Line with bond paper. Steam over high heat for 15 minutes.
SIOPAO RECIPE - Method #4
Ingredients:
Dough Filling:
3 cups plain flour1 tbsp baking powder60 g (2 oz) lard3/4 cup warm water1 teaspoon white vinegar1/2 tsp saltFilling
1 in piece green ginger1 clove garlic2 tbsp oil1/2 cup water1 tbsp hoi sin sauce1 tbsp oyster sauce1 tbsp soy sauce1/2 tsp sesame oil3 tsp corn flour4 shallots8 oz Chinese barbecued porkInstructions:
Note: These buns are cooked in steamers available in sets of two or three racks. Chinese barbecued pork can be bought at Chinese food stores, or you can make your own - this is basically tocino - the recipe will come out soon! Be patient.
1. Place peeled and grated ginger, crushed garlic and oil in frying pan, saute gently for one minute. Add hoi sin sauce, oyster sauce, soy sauce and sesame oil, simmer for two minutes, stirring constantly. Add combined water and cornflour, stir until sauce boils; reduce heat, simmer uncovered for two minutes. Add very finely chopped pork, stir until combined. Remove pan from heat, add finely chopped shallots, stir until combined. Allow pork mixture to become complete cold.
2. to make the dough, sift flour, salt and baking powder into bowl. Rub in softened lard until mixture resembles fine bread crumbs. Add combined warm water and vinegar, stir to a soft but pliable dough. Turn out on to lightly flour surface; knead lightly. Cover dough with plastic food wrap, allow to stand for 20 minutes. Knead lightly. Cut dough into 12 equal portions. Roll each portion into a ball.
3. Take each ball of dough and roll out on floured surface to a 4 in circle. Brush edge lightly with water. Place one round of dough in palm of hand. Put one tablespoon of filling in center of round. Press edges of dough together.
4. Take the two ends of bun, bring them up over the pinched edge and twist together firmly. Cut 12 pieces of greaseproof paper into 5in squares. Brush one side lightly with oil. Place a bun upside down, so the smooth rounded side is uppermost, on each oiled piece of paper.
5. Choose a saucepan slightly smaller than the diamer of the steamer. Fill saucepan to about 1/3 full of water, bring to boil. Arrange buns on paper in single layer in steamer. If using steamer with two or three racks, fill remaining racks the same way. Plac eon top of first rack. Put lid on top. Steam over gently boiling water for 20 minutes.
TIPS IN SIOPAO BUSINESS
Make sure your products are always fresh. Customers want their siopao fresh and hot when served, says Eymard Carandang of Siopao Express. "They can tell the difference, and they'll come back if your siopao is good."
Produce only the siopao that you can sell in a day. Siopao is perishable, so it's a good idea to make only what you can sell. "We produce and deliver siopao to our outlets every day to ensure they're always fresh," says Ngan Tian of Lots A Pizza. "If the siopao in the steamer is not sold at the end of the day, you must throw it away," says Carandang.
Know what your market wants. When Pacita Cheng of Pao Express gave away peanut, mongo, and ube siopao as birthday giveaways, those who received them pushed her to introduce the sweet varieties in the market. Ngan Tian came up with chicken asado siopao for her Muslim customers. "It's important to come up with products that will suit the market," she says.
Be consistent. Be careful with your mixing and preparations to produce consistently clean, nutritious , and delicious siopao.
Be careful with blending. The ingredients that you put into your siopao should blend very well with the dough. If not, your siopao will spoil easily."
Handle your products with care. Steam your siopao carefully so the dough does not get too soggy or too dry. You must check on them every time.
Servings & Ingredients
Instructions
the dumpling before steaming. The steam heat melts the gelatin into soup. 
Char Siu Bao, a.k.a Chinese Barbecue Pork Buns, are fluffy, white buns that are commonly served at Chinese restaurants during dim sum. At their best, Char Siu Bao are soft as a pillow and filled with a savory mixture of minced Chinese barbecue pork (char siu), soy sauce, oyster sauce, scallions and sugar.
