Nikuman 🥟 Steamed Pork Buns

Description

Fluffy, tender buns with a juicy pork-and-cabbage filling — classic Japanese street comfort, perfect for cozy hands and happy bites 🤍.

Ingredients

• Dough
• 🌾 All-purpose flour: 300 g (2 1/2 cups / 10.6 oz)
• 🍬 Sugar: 30 g (2 tbsp / 1.1 oz)
• 🧂 Fine salt: 4 g (3/4 tsp)
• 🧪 Instant yeast: 6 g (2 tsp)
• 🔺 Baking powder: 4 g (1 tsp)
• 💧 Warm water (38–40°C): 180 ml (3/4 cup)
• 🛢️ Neutral oil: 15 ml (1 tbsp / 0.5 fl oz)
• Filling
• 🐖 Ground pork: 300 g (10.6 oz)
• 🥬 Finely chopped cabbage: 150 g (5.3 oz)
• 🧂 Salt: 1/4 tsp (for cabbage)
• 🧅 Green onions, finely sliced: 2
• 🧄 Garlic, minced: 1 clove
• 🫚 Fresh ginger, grated: 1 tsp (5 g / 0.18 oz)
• 🧂 Soy sauce: 1 tbsp (15 ml / 0.5 fl oz)
• 🦪 Oyster sauce: 1 tbsp (15 ml / 0.5 fl oz)
• 🍶 Sake (optional): 1 tbsp (15 ml / 0.5 fl oz)
• 🍬 Sugar: 1 tsp (4 g / 0.14 oz)
• 🌾 Cornstarch: 1 tbsp (8 g / 0.28 oz)
• 🌿 Sesame oil: 1 tsp (5 ml / 0.17 fl oz)

Preparation

1. 1️⃣ Cabbage: Toss cabbage with salt, rest 10 min, then squeeze out moisture.
2. 2️⃣ Dough: Whisk dry ingredients. Add warm water and oil; mix, then knead 8–10 min until smooth. Cover and proof 45 min (doubled).
3. 3️⃣ Filling: Mix pork, squeezed cabbage, green onions, garlic, ginger, sauces, sugar, cornstarch, and sesame oil until sticky.
4. 4️⃣ Shape: Punch down dough; divide into 8–10 pieces. Roll each to a 10–12 cm (4–5 in) round, thicker in the center. Add filling, pleat, and pinch to seal. Place seam-side down on parchment squares.
5. 5️⃣ Second proof: Rest buns 15 min while bringing steamer to a boil.
6. 6️⃣ Steam: Steam over medium-high 12–15 min (don’t open lid early). Rest off heat 2 min before uncovering. Serve hot.

Total Time

🕒 Prep: 25 min

🧘 Proof: 60 min (total)

🔥 Cook: 12–15 min

⏳ Total: ~1 hr 40 min

Back to full recipe