Can I use chicken instead of pork?

Yes. Boneless chicken thighs hold moisture well and work with the same seasoning profile.

Why chill the filling first?

Cold filling is easier to portion and helps keep the dough from tearing during shaping.

Can I freeze the buns?

Yes. Cool them fully, then freeze and reheat until warmed through.

Soft Baked Char Siu Bao with Alternate Fillings

Name: Soft Baked Char Siu Bao with Alternate Fillings
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 3 h
Yield: 12
Ingredients: 40 g bread flour (strong flour preferred); 255 g whole milk; 1 batch tangzhong (cooled); 350 g bread flour; 50 g sugar (caster); 56 g butter (unsalted, softened); 1 piece egg (room temperature); 14 g milk powder (optional); 6 g sea salt (fine); 8 g instant yeast; 15 g milk (or water, only if needed to loosen dough); 454 g pork shoulder (trimmed and diced small; or use boneless chicken thighs); 1.25 g baking soda (for tenderizing); 15 g water; 3 g sea salt (fine); 10 g cornstarch; 13 g oil (neutral); 6 piece dried shiitake mushrooms (soaked and finely chopped); 454 g mixed mushrooms (finely diced); 13 g oil (neutral); 3 g sea salt (fine)

These buns depend on contrast between the soft enriched dough and a glossy, savory-sweet filling. Tangzhong gives the bread a finer crumb and helps it stay tender after baking, which is especially useful when making a full batch ahead of time.

The structure is flexible enough to support different fillings without changing the method much. Pork gives the most traditional result, chicken keeps the same style with a lighter finish, and mushrooms provide a good vegetarian option as long as the filling is cooked down enough to avoid excess moisture.

For the cleanest shaping, chill the filling and avoid overstuffing. A well-sealed bun with enough proof time will bake evenly and keep its smooth bakery-style shape.

What Helps The Dough Stay Soft

Tangzhong changes the texture of the dough more than the ingredient list might suggest. It helps the buns stay tender for longer and gives the crumb a softer, slightly more delicate pull once baked. That matters most in filled buns, where the bread has to stay light without tearing around the filling.

Filling texture matters just as much. Whether you use a meat or mushroom version, it should be cooked down until glossy and not watery. A wetter filling makes shaping harder and can weaken the bun structure in the oven.

Serving Notes

These buns are good for batch baking because they freeze and reheat well. That makes them practical for lunches, snack boxes, or larger baking days where you want part of the batch ready for later.

They are best warmed slightly before serving so the dough softens again and the filling tastes more aromatic.

For the cleanest shaping, chill the filling and avoid overstuffing. A well-sealed bun with enough proof time will bake evenly and keep its smooth bakery-style shape.

What Helps The Dough Stay Soft

Serving Notes

These buns are good for batch baking because they freeze and reheat well. That makes them practical for lunches, snack boxes, or larger baking days where you want part of the batch ready for later.

They are best warmed slightly before serving so the dough softens again and the filling tastes more aromatic.