Nikuman (Butaman / Pork Bun)

Soft Japanese steamed buns filled with a savory pork, cabbage, ginger, and shiitake mixture. Traditionally served hot with soy sauce and hot mustard.

This recipe is Japanese style, lunch, scaled for 10 servings, with 45 min prep and 15 min cook.

Prep: 45 min · Cook: 15 min · Total: 60 min · Serves: 10

Quick cooking notes

• Core ingredients include shiitake mushroom, fresh ginger, vegetable shortening, oyster sauce.
• Follow all 8 steps in order for the intended texture and doneness.
• Ingredient quantities listed below are for 10 servings.

Ingredients

• 7.98 tbsp shiitake mushroom (sliced)
• 2 inches fresh ginger (minced)
• 15 ml vegetable shortening
• 1 dash oyster sauce
• 151 g ground lean pork
• 1.33 cups flour
• 52 ml sugar (divided)
• 11 ml baking powder
• 3.333 fluid ounces water
• 1 to taste pepper
• 1 dash sesame oil
• 15 ml japanese sake
• 1.333 fluid ounces milk
• 1 dash soy sauce
• 5 leaves chinese cabbage (cut into julienne and lightly steamed)
• 7 ml cornstarch
• 1 pinch salt (plus more to taste for filling)
• 4 ml instant yeast
• 2 unit garlic cloves (minced)

Instructions

1. For the bun dough, mix the flour, 2 1/2 tablespoons of the sugar, salt, instant yeast, and baking powder in a bowl. Make a well in the center.
2. Pour in the milk and water, mix until combined, then add the vegetable shortening and knead until the dough is smooth.
3. Cover and rest the dough at room temperature for 30 minutes.
4. For the filling, combine the ground pork, steamed Chinese cabbage, garlic, ginger, shiitake mushrooms, sesame oil, soy sauce, oyster sauce, remaining 1 tablespoon sugar, sake, cornstarch, salt, and pepper. Mix well and divide into 10 balls.
5. Divide the dough into 10 pieces and roll each piece into a round wrapper.
6. Wrap each dough round around a filling ball, then pinch and twist the top to seal.
7. Let the filled buns rest for 15 minutes.
8. Steam for 15 minutes. Add a small splash of white vinegar to the steaming water to help prevent discoloration.

Nutrition (per serving)

• Calories: 118
• Protein: 5 g
• Fat: 3 g
• Carbohydrates: 17 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 88 mg

Nutrition values are estimates based on stored ingredient totals and serving size.

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