These gluten free steamed Chinese meat buns have a simple savory meat mixture wrapped in pillow-soft steamed dough. Cook in a steamer basket or in soup!
These gluten free steamed Chinese meat buns are soft and fluffy, with the most gorgeous savory filling. I adapted the recipe from someone who knows, since I certainly did not know.
The filling is largely the same as the recipe from which I adapted it. The dough is the real star, and that required some more work to recreate as gluten free.
I prefer the recipe to be made with my gluten free bread flour blend from (don’t worry it’s all explained in the Recipe Notes below), but I also tested it with my gluten free pastry flour (also all explained in the Recipe Notes below) and it does, in fact, work.
Light and fluffy steamed buns filled with a delightfully gingery, salty beef mixture, whether you’re missing these buns because you know, or you’ve never had them, you’re in for a treat. As my kids said when they first tried them, “Oh, these are like potstickers! Except better.”
How to steam the buns
I only steam these buns for 8 minutes, and then allow them to rest for about 2 minutes after steaming. You can’t peek during steaming (!) or you’ll let out the steam.
I’ve tried steaming the buns for as long as instructed in the original recipe, and found that they turned out tough. The purpose of steaming these buns rather than baking them is to maintain moisture and provide indirect heat.
If you’re at all concerned that your buns might not be completely cooked in 8 minutes, I recommend allowing them to sit, still covered, off the heat for longer. You won’t overcook them that way, and it should put your concerns to rest.
I do have a bamboo steamer basket, but I have also made these with a metal steamer. If you don’t have either a bamboo or metal steamer, you can try making these buns in an oiled cast iron skillet.
Fill the skillet at least half way up the sides of the buns, cover, and simmer until cooked through. It might be messy, but it should work—and create a bonus browning on the bottom of the buns.
You can also boil these buns in simmering chicken stock or beef stock, depending upon the meat you’ve chosen for your filling. I would make them smaller (about half the size called for in the recipe) if you’re planning to serve them in soup.
How to shape the dough
To shape the dough, the best way to imagine it is by watching the how-to video in this post. If you are sighted but don’t see the video, it can only be because you’re using an ad blocker. Please turn it off both to see the video and because that’s the only way I get paid at all for my work.
If you aren’t sighted or you’re less of a visual learner, I recommend you read the recipe instructions all the way through at least once before beginning. That’s the best way to understand the mechanics.
Tips for shaping
As a general concept, first pull of a small piece of dough and roll it into a tight ball. Then, flatten the ball of dough into a round about 4-inches in diameter using first the heel of your hand, and then a rolling pin (the smaller the better).
For best results, thin about a 1-inch border all around the shaped dough until it’s no more than 1/8-inch thick. The rest of the round of dough will remain a bit thicker so that the filling doesn’t leak. This ensures that the pleats you’re about to create aren’t too thick.
Then, place the shaped dough in the palm of one hand, fill, and begin to gather the ends of the dough together up and over the filling like an accordion, making your way around until the bun is sealed. Gently twist the raised center gently.
Can I use the dough to make gluten free bao buns?
Yes, I have, indeed, tried using this dough to make bao buns. It was really exciting and I’m going to make it a permanent part of my life. They’re like little fluffy dough tacos.
I can’t give you actual instructions yet, because I’m still learning and perfecting my technique. If you already know what you’re doing making Chinese meat buns and you just needed me for the gluten free dough recipe, then don’t wait for me! I’ll catch up eventually and I will share if there’s interest.
Ingredients and substitutions
Dairy
If you make this recipe using my gluten free bread flour blend, dairy is essential. If you use a gluten free pastry flour blend (see Recipes Notes for details), you can use coconut milk powder in place of dairy milk powder. And in place of the dairy milk in the dough, use your favorite unsweetened nondairy milk.
Yeast
This recipe calls for instant yeast, which is also called breadmaker or rapid-rise yeast. There is no substitute for yeast in a yeasted bread recipe.
In place of instant yeast, you can use active dry yeast, though. Simply multiply the amount (by weight) of the instant yeast (here, 5 grams) by 1.25 or 125% to get 6 1/4 grams of yeast. My scale isn’t sensitive to less than a whole gram, but just add a bit more after you reach 6 grams.
Active dry yeast has a thicker coating around the yeast. You should soak it in some of the milk in the recipe until it foams before adding it to the dough with the rest of the milk.
HELLO! I’m Nicole! I make gluten-free food enjoyable & affordable. If they can make it with gluten, we can make it without. That’s a promise!
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Nicole, thank you for this! Do you cook the pork before filling the buns, or does it cook while the buns are steaming?
If you precooked it, I would certainly instruct you do that, Scott! It all steams together.
Hi, Nicole!
In this Chinese bun recipe, can I JUST use Better Batter for the flour? I don’t have whey isolate…
Thank you!
Love your recipes! Will get ur cookbook!
Carmen;))
Please see the discussion in the recipe about using my gluten free pastry flour blend instead of my gluten free bread flour blend, Carmen. That is the only alternative (not Better Batter alone). It is all explained in detail right in the recipe and recipes notes.
Hi Nicole, I will definitely make these steamed baos soon! Can’t wait to eat them! Could I make a request of the Chinese bo lo baos, or pineapple buns? Or even the Chinese bbq baked pork baos. :)
Nicole, I didn’t see your post about the Instant Pot till I wrote a response to DORRIE. And you were pretty much right on. I added boiling water between batches so the IP didn’t run out.
And for the buns – perfect flavor and texture! But, mine were HUGE. I like a good large pork bun, but the ones in your pictures don’t look at big as what I ended up with. So, I made some that were smaller, and they were great too. The reminder of the dough is in the fridge, and I’m going to finish making them today, so I’ll see how the dough holds up overnight. Thank you! If I can make a request – tapioca dumplings Har Gow next after Bao…
Thank you for sharing how well that worked, Meg! It sounds like you and were thinking right along the same lines for the method.
The dough will hold up if it’s sealed well in the refrigerator, but I recommend letting them rise for about half the time after shaping as they’ll have a tendency to rise a lot more during steaming.
I looked up Har Gow, and it seems like it’s made with a combination of wheat starch and tapioca starch, plus a fat and boiling water? They look amazing, but already nearly gluten free if you find a good replacement for the wheat starch (which should be a bit easier than finding a replacement for wheat flour). I’ve been thinking of trying homemade cheung fun noodles, but I don’t plan to share a recipe since it won’t be mine.
DORRIE BERKOWITZ – I used an Instant Pot last night to steam the buns. Worked great! I used the Saute function, rather than the steam function, and placed the lid loosely on top – don’t engage the lid, or you will get a “lid” warning. If you use the Steam function, you will need to lock the lid on, and release the steam to open the lid, so you loose control over the steaming time. If you don’t have a steamer basket, you can steam the buns on a plate that fits inside your IP.
Looks like a great recipe — thanks for working so hard for us! Question: What are your thoughts on steaming these in an Instant Pot?
Funny that you should ask that question, Dorrie, because I kept wondering if that would work! You definitely should not pressure cook them, because they’ll end up tough. But you might be able to steam them by placing water in the Instant Pot liner, then placing a steamer rack on top, lining it, placing the buns on top, and then turn the pot on to cook (not pressure cook), with the lid on but not secured. It would be a bit risky, though, because the water could all evaporate and you wouldn’t know until it was too late.
Hi Nicole,
These buns look masterful! They must have been so much work to develop. Do you think you could use this dough for bao buns?
Thanks!!
Alonna
Hi, Alonna, I actually talk about that in the post. I think the answer is yes! I’m just refining the recipe and technique.
Thank you so much for creating this! I have not had this in years because of the allergy. ❤️❤️❤️ Always like ur recipes! ?
You’re very welcome, Kang. My pleasure!
Can I also leave the dough for a cold rise in the fridge? Will it work? Also, what do you think of King Arthur Measure-for-Measure Flour instead of Better Batter?
Yes, you can, Kara, allow it to rise for a bit in a sealed bucket in the refrigerator, but I don’t recommend doing it for more than a day. You don’t want these buns to become overly puffy during baking, and I find that when the dough rests for too long, they tend to overproof quickly after shaping and/or rise too much during steaming. And King Arthur flour cannot be used in my recipes successfully, especially not to create my gluten free bread flour blend, which is a very, very specific blend.
I have used this recipe to make steamed flower shaped buns (see Maangchi’s YouTube channel for Korean inspiration) and my family was over the moon for them. We’ll try the recipe as written tomorrow with some egg drop soup on the side. You’re my secret weapon, Nicole!
I just found her YouTube channel, Julie, and those flower shaped buns. They’re beautiful, and this dough seems perfect for that recipe! Thank you so much for sharing that. I’m honored to be your secret weapon. :)
My husband loves these and usually tries to ‘steal’ them behind my back now he dosn’t have too!
These were tricky! I had a hard time getting the edges to seal (too much flour during roll-out?) and they opened up during steaming. Still, my room mate and I devoured them. Thank you!
I have had these on my menu for SOO long…but I held out, waiting for your recipe, and it’s finally here!!!!! Thank you, thank you!!
This one’s definitely for you, Angie! ;)
I feel so special!
Nicole, you are my HERO!!!! I’ve been waiting for these for YEARS. I cannot wait to make them. Keep going on the dim sum thread!!!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!!!
Wow I didn’t know how strongly you felt about them, Brad! :)
Oh heavens thank you, I love steamed buns. There are certain movies/shows I cannot watch without my stomach GROWLING (Kung Fu Panda etc).
LOL, Lauren!
Lovely works of art :)
Thanks Nicole!
Thank you, Lucy!
You know how I love my Asian food. Thanks so much! :)
I do indeed, Jennifer!