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    Home » Recipes » Filipino

    Published: May 14, 2022 · Updated: Jun 3, 2023 by Joanne

    The Easiest Siopao Asado Recipe

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Siopao asado is the Filipino equivalent of a steamed pork bun. It's filled with braised meat in a deliciously sticky, sweet, and salty sauce. The bun dough also doesn't require too much time proofing, but they are still fluffy and structured enough to keep the filling from spilling out.

    Closeup of cross section of siopao asado

    Update Disclosure: This post has been updated for one or more of the following reasons: easier reading, updated photos, clearer instructions, and just plain ol' improvements to the recipe (as noted).

    My favorite type of buns are either baked (like empanadas) or steamed (filled with just about anything). However, this one tops the list!

    Jump to:
    • History of Siopao Asado
    • The Easier Char Siu Bao
    • Ingredients
    • Substitutes
    • Recipe Tips
    • How to Make Siopao Asado
    • Storing Siopao Asado
    • Siopao Asado (Filipino Pork Bun) Recipe
    • Have You Tried This Recipe?

    History of Siopao Asado

    The two names of this bun are the perfect example of the Philippines' diverse historical influences. Siopao asado means "steamed bun with braised meat". The first word, siopao, is a word that has Chinese roots, while asado comes from Spain. Siopao comes from the word baozi which means "steamed bun". There are two meanings for the word asado in Tagalog: grilled and braised meat. But asado in the Philippines is a given name to specific Filipino dishes instead of how the Spanish uses the word asado, as an adjective that means "roasted".

    In this bun, asado is the braised meat dish cooked and cooled before being added to the bun dough. You can add other fillings to siopao, which is the steamed bun. Another popular siopao filling is called bola-bola, which I can best describe as a meatball in a bun.

    The Easier Char Siu Bao

    You like char siu baos? Well this one is easier to make and tastes just as good. Making char siu from scratch is extensive. You gotta marinate it, then roast it, baste it, and roast it, then baste it again. Let me go on the record and say, I tend to eat a lion's share of char siu baos. But I'll leave these buns to the super dim sum experts!

    With siopao, you throw your filling ingredients in a deep pan and braise the meat for an hour. The buns typically need two proofing periods, but this one skips one. So even less steps!

    Ingredients

    These are the items you'll need from your pantry to make the buns and the filling:

    • All-Purpose Flour
    • Baking Powder
    • Active Dry Yeast
    • Granulated Sugar
    • Water
    • Pork Shoulder
    • Garlic
    • Onion
    • Soy Sauce
    • Dark Soy Sauce
    • Oyster Sauce
    • Cornstarch
    • Eggs

    Substitutes

    • Dark Soy Sauce: Go ahead and use more of the regular soy sauce for this recipe if you don't have this special type in your kitchen.

    • Pork Shoulder: A fatty cut of pork will do such as pork belly and pork neck. But any bits of lean pork with fatty pork also work. If you don't want to chop at all, you can even opt for ground pork - it also works!

    • Active Dry Yeast: You can use instant dry yeast and skip the blooming step. Just add the milk, sugar, and yeast directly to the rest of the dry ingredients.

    Recipe Tips

    • Taste Test: Test the meat for tenderness after braising about thirty minutes. If you find that it's still too hard, add another ten minutes to your braising time. Add more time if you feel like it's not tender to your liking after forty minutes. I actually like a bit of bite to my filling, so it provides a contrast to the soft dough! 

    • Longer Resting Time: If you do have time, let the pork rest in the fridge for longer than an hour. The more solid it is, the easier it will be to add the filling on the dough and shape the buns.

    • Prepare Parchment Paper: Before building the buns, take some parchment paper and cut them into squares so you can stick them at the bottom of each bun. You will need eight for this recipe.

    • The Perfect Steaming Method: Once you are done steaming your buns, do not remove the top cover just yet! Remove the whole steamer from the hot water and place it on the counter to rest covered for about three to five minutes. This way, you lock in moisture and the buns will be their fluffiest once that crucial resting period is complete.

    How to Make Siopao Asado

    I don't want to oversimplify this, because it does take some effort and time.

    Here's a quick preview of what you'll do:

    1. Brown the pork in a pan with garlic and onions.
    2. Add the sauces and braise for an hour.
    3. Thicken the braised meat. Allow it to cool.
    4. Make the dough by blooming the yeast in milk and sugar first.
    5. Then add it to the dry ingredients.
    6. Knead the dough and split into eight pieces.
    7. Flatten a piece of dough and add filling in the middle.
    8. Close it up to make a bun. Repeat the steps 7 or 8 seven more times.

    Storing Siopao Asado

    If you plan to make a batch and save the rest, let the steamed buns cool to room temperature and place them in a ziplock bag. Put the bag in the freezer. When you are ready to eat one, place a frozen bun in the steamer and steam it for about fifteen to twenty minutes.

    Closeup of cross section of siopao asado

    Siopao Asado (Filipino Pork Bun) Recipe

    Siopao asado is tasty, savory, and sweet pork encased in a fluffy white steamed bun. These buns are as big as your palm and very filling, but I always manage to finish a few in one sitting!
    4.67 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 2 hours hrs 35 minutes mins
    Cook Time 25 minutes mins
    Total Time 2 hours hrs
    Course Snack
    Cuisine Filipino
    Servings 8 big buns
    Calories 274 kcal
    Disclosure

    The equipment and ingredients sections contain affiliate links to products I love to use as well as items that I personally believe make this recipe the best version of itself.

    Ingredients
     
     

    Bun

    • 400 grams all-purpose flour
    • 4 grams baking powder
    • 4 grams yeast
    • 60 grams granulated sugar
    • 215 grams warm water

    Filling

    • 500 grams (~ 1 pound) pork shoulder, diced small
    • 6 cloves garlic
    • ½ medium onion, diced small
    • 2 tablespoon soy sauce
    • 2 tablespoon oyster sauce
    • 3 tablespoon granulated sugar
    • 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
    • 1 tbsp cornstarch
    • 350 grams water
    • 2 boiled eggs, quartered optional

    Instructions
     

    Make Filling

    • Add the cornstarch and water in a small bowl, mix until clumps disappear, set aside. Heat a bit of oil in a pan and add the pork. Cook until browned and liquid has evaporated. Add garlic and onions, cook for two minutes with browned pork.
      Pork being cooked in a cast iron
    • Add soy sauce, dark soy sauce, sugar, and oyster sauce. Mix well and cook for another 2 minutes.
      Closeup of asado with liquid ingredient
    • Add cornstarch slurry and braise on low heat for 40 - 50 minutes or until the meat reaches a tenderness to your liking. Add some more water if the sauce gets too thick and you want to continue braising.
      Overhead of thickened sauce in asado filling
    • When the meat is tender and the sauce has a thick consistency, remove from heat and add to a bowl. Set it aside and cool to room temperature. About 1 hour.
      Cooked asado filling placed in a bowl with spatula

    Make Bun Dough

    • In a bowl add yeast, warm water and 1 tablespoon of the measured sugar, mix well and set aside to activate for 10 minutes.
      Yeast mixture in the process of blooming in a bowl
    • In a large bowl, add the flour, baking powder, and the rest of the sugar then whisk the dry ingredients to mix. Add the activated yeast and mix everything until the dough comes together.
      Closeup of siopao dough mixed with water
    • Place the dough on a flat surface and knead for about 10 minutes or dough is smooth when rolled to a ball. Split the dough into 8 equal parts and set aside covered with cling wrap to keep them from drying.
      Shaped mini dough balls for siopao asado

    Assembly

    • Take one dough ball and flatten with a rolling pin, then shape into a large circle that is thickest at the center.
      Rolled dough with small rolling pin
    • Place some of the refrigerated filling in the center (add a slice of egg if you are using boiled eggs) and close the bun by pinching the edges together. Gently roll under your palm to reshape to a ball if necessary.
      Filling in center of rolled dough dumpling
    • Place a small square of parchment paper under the bun. Repeat the steps above until all dough balls are filled. Place the buns in a steamer with a space of about 1 inch (2.5 cm) between them. Cover to proof for 40 minutes.
      Proofing dough in steamer basket

    Steaming the Buns

    • Fill a pot about halfway with water. Place it on the stove and bring it to a low boil. Steam the buns for about 15 minutes and then remove the steamer from the heat while it's still covered.
    • Remove from the heat but do remove the lid. Keep the buns covered in the steamer and let them cool on the counter for about 3 minutes before eating.
      Closeup of siopao buns after steaming

    Notes

    You can freeze the buns after you steam them. To reheat, simply place a frozen bun on a steamer and steam for 20 minutes.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 274kcalCarbohydrates: 46gProtein: 14gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 26mgSodium: 587mgPotassium: 224mgFiber: 2gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 3IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 53mgIron: 3mg
    Disclaimer: Nutritional values were calculated with the Spoonacular Food API and should be used for informational purposes only.
    Keyword asian food, asian recipe, buns, filipino food, filled buns, pork, pork dumpling, siopao, steamed bao, steamed bun

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Caitlyn says

      June 29, 2022 at 10:36 am

      5 stars
      I made these last weekend for my whole family and everyone thought they were were amazing! They had a great balance of savoury and sweetness and the bun was fluffy and light. I subbed shoulder for ground pork because I'm a grad student on a budget but everything else, I followed exactly. I will say that for me (and my mother) the egg definitely was not optional and was one of my fave parts so don't skip out on it!!!

      Reply
      • Joanne says

        June 29, 2022 at 11:58 am

        I'm so happy to hear you liked it! Subbing the ground pork was a smart and economical move. Thanks!

        Reply
    4.67 from 3 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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