BBQ Chicken Bun

Sometimes when I give home made food to the relatives, they ask me why I go to all the trouble to make them when I can buy them outside at a small cost. There are many reasons I make my own dishes, such as creating a taste unique to me, or substituting healthier ingredients, not just the cost. But if I were to calculate the cost of these char siew baos (strictly speaking they are BBQ chicken buns), then I would be in front. Each bao costs around $3 in the stores, and the total cost of making them is less than $6. They are easy peasy to make too!

First attempt at char siew bao

My shortcut method to achieving smoky BBQ flavour for the bao filling is to buy a roast chicken from the shops, dice up the breast meat and stir fry it with chopped onions, bottled char siew sauce, oyster sauce, soy sauce and sesame oil, add some frozen peas and there you have the filling all ready for use.

The dough takes a little bit more effort:
3 1/4 cups bao flour
2 teaspoon insant yeast
1 cup water
2 tablespoons powdered milk
4 tablespoons icing sugar
2 teaspoons cooking oil

Knead until elastic and proof in greased bowl, in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in size. Punch down and divide into 12 portions. Put filling in the middle of each portion and pleat close. Steam.