Steamed Japanese Pork Buns (Nikuman) Recipe | Wanderzest (2024)

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Steamed Japanese Meat Buns (Nikuman) are soft, fluffy buns filled with a satisfying combination of succulent meat and fresh vegetables. They are great as a tasty snack or a flavorful side dish. Their delightful flavor and texture make them the perfect comfort food.

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You probably consider Thailand to be a pretty popular destination for people to visit, but Japan doesn't seem to have the same appeal, at least for us Americans. When Jacob and I were planning our trip, stopping in Japan was really just a way for us to cut costs. We actually had a lot of friends ask us, "Why Japan?". And to be honest, I'd never even considered traveling to Japan before this trip. Places like England, Italy and Francewere always at the top of my list, but Japan, not so much.

But, in all reality...Japan not only exceeded my expectations, but I was absolutely blown away by the country! Not only was the culture amazing, but the food was so delicious, the people were so friendly, and the scenery was absolutely beautiful. Such a neat country to visit, and I HIGHLY recommend it!

Of course, whilethere were so many great partsof Japan, I was naturally excited about trying all of the new food. Some of my favorites includedramen, tonkatsu, mochi, and my inspiration for today's recipe...pork buns. Ugh, sooo good. I'm totally craving some Japanese cuisine right now!

Steamed Japanese Pork Buns (Nikuman) Recipe | Wanderzest (2)

While we were exploring Japan, I made an effort to search for all of the new foods that we needed to try. There was a specific restaurant in Kyoto that I knew we needed to visit on our way to the Kiyomizudera Temple. This restaurant was well-known for its meat buns (or Nikuman): steamed buns made with a flour dough and filled with meat. So, we picked up some meat buns on our way to the Japanese temple, and enjoyed them so much that we purchased more on our way back! It's funny how something so simple can be so satisfying!

Since I have no idea where to get my hands on these meat buns in America, I've decided to take a stab at making my own. While they aren't exactly the same as true Japanese steamed pork buns, they come pretty dang close. Yes, I know the thought of making these from scratch may sound rather intimidating, I thought that too. But I think you'll be surprised to find out that it's a lot easier than you think.

Steamed Japanese Pork Buns (Nikuman) Recipe | Wanderzest (3)

Are pork buns Chinese or Japanese?

Nikuman is the Japanese name for Chinese baozi. The steamed buns are made from flour dough and filled with cooked pork or beef and are actually enjoyed in many countries throughout South East Asia in addition to Japan and China.

How do you cook pork buns without a steamer?

No steamer? No problem! This video has a great tutorial for steaming pork buns without a steamer.

How long do pork buns last in the fridge?

Cooked buns can be stored in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the fridge or 4-6 weeks in the freezer. To reheat the buns from frozen or refrigerated, let them come to room temperature. Steam the buns for 5-7 minutes or until hot.

Cooked buns will keep in an airtight container for3 to 4 daysin the refrigerator or4 to 6 weeksin the freezer. To reheat: If frozen, let the buns thaw and come to room temperature; if refrigerated, let them come to room temperature. Then steam the buns in bamboo steamers until very hot, 5 to 7 minutes.

You'll also love these other Japanese recipes:

If you make this recipe, let me know what you think! I’d love it if you could add a star rating ★ and a comment below. Be sure to follow me onInstagram,Pinterest, andFacebook, too!

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Steamed Japanese Pork Buns

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Steamed Japanese Meat Buns (Nikuman) are soft, fluffy buns filled with a satisfying combination of succulent meat and fresh vegetables. They are great as a tasty snack or a flavorful side dish. Their delightful flavor and texture make them the perfect comfort food.

  • Author: Ashley
  • Prep Time: 2 hours
  • Inactive Time: 0 hours
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings 1x
  • Cuisine: Japanese

Ingredients

UnitsScale

Dough

Meat Filling

  • ½ pound ground beef or pork, cooked
  • 1 ½ cup cabbage, finely chopped
  • 4 green onions, chopped
  • ½ Tbsp garlic, minced
  • ⅛ tsp dried ginger
  • dash of pepper
  • 3 tsp soy sauce
  • ¼ tsp sugar
  • 1 Tbsp rice wine vinegar
  • ½ tsp sesame oil

Instructions

  1. Start by proofing your yeast (unless you are using instant yeast). Dissolve the yeast and sugar in warm water. Let the mixture stand for 5 to 10 minutes until it looks foamy.
  2. Add in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix in the olive oil, and knead with a stand mixer or by hand for 5 minutes. The dough should be slightly sticky at this point.Place a damp towel over the bowl and let rise until double in size.
  3. In a separate bowl, combine the meat filling ingredients. Place in the refrigerator until the dough is ready.
  4. Once the dough has risen, split into 6 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ball and let rise for another 10 minutes.
  5. Roll out each ball with a rolling pin and fill with the meat filling. Pinch together each of the sides to seal the bun, and then slightly twist in the middle.
  6. Place each bun on a small square of parchment paper or a cupcake liner. Let the buns rise for 20 minutes.Steam the buns for 20 minutes, or until cooked through.

Notes

Adapted fromMamaloli.

If you don't have a steamer, layer four equal sized balls of aluminum foil in a large pot. Add a couple of inches of water into the pot, and then place a plate on top of the aluminum. Set your buns on the plate and cover with a lid. Let the buns simmer on medium-low for 20 minutes.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 grams
  • Unsaturated Fat: 0

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Steamed Japanese Pork Buns (Nikuman) Recipe | Wanderzest (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between Nikuman and bao? ›

The two types of pork buns have some distinct differences, however. Japanese nikuman tend to have a smoother dumpling-like surface and are filled with a simple meatball of minced pork and vegetables, while cha siu bao have a fluffier, doughy texture and contain chopped barbecued pork mixed with a thick, sweet barbecue ...

What does nikuman mean? ›

Noun. nikuman (plural nikuman) A (Japanese) baozi with meat filling; a Chinese steamed stuffed bun with meat.

Why is my steamed buns not fluffy? ›

Any rush of cool air could potentially make the buns collapse. If you're making fluffy yeasted buns, let the buns sit covered in the steamer for an extra 5 minutes after the heat has been turned off. This resting time is crucial. If you open the lid too quickly, the cool air from outside might deflate the buns.

Are Bao buns the same as steamed buns? ›

Bao Buns (pronounced “bow”), but also known as a 'steamed buns' or 'baozi' 包子, are a delicious, warm, fluffy treat of stuffing wrapped inside a sweet, white dough. Made with a mix of flour, yeast, sugar, baking powder, milk and oil, the bao is a tad sweeter than its closely related cousin, the dumpling.

What is the difference between bao bao and dumplings? ›

In summary, bao buns are made from fermented yeast dough, while dumplings are only made from wheat flour without the yeast. Since bao dough contains yeast, it needs more time to rise and results in thinner skin than dumplings. In terms of cooking, baos are usually steamed, baked, and sometimes pan-fried.

What is another name for a bao bun? ›

As mentioned before Bao Buns are also commonly referred to as “bao, bay, pow, pau, paoare, Mantou, baozi, humbow, nunu, bakpao, bausak, however the most common terminology will be Bao or Steamed Buns. These soft delicious Chinese treats have been in existence for hundreds of years!

Are bao buns Japanese or Korean? ›

A gua bao, also known as a pork belly bun, bao, or bao bun, is a type of lotus leaf bun originating from Fujianese cuisine in China. It is also a popular snack in Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, and Nagasaki Chinatown in Japan.

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