Philippine Siopao (Stuffed Buns) - (Free Recipe below)

Siopao and its varieties are actually found across Asia.

In Thailand, the counterpart of siopao is called salapao.

Both siopao and salapao come frombaozi, a Chinese stuffed bun that the Chinese people shared with its Asian neighbors during their ancient trades across the continent.

In the Philippines, siopao usually comes in two flavors – asado and bola-bola.

Asado siopao is filled with diced meat – pork or beef – that is cooked in soy sauce and seasoned with salt and sugar.

Bola-bola siopao, on the other hand, is filled with finely ground meat – again either pork or beef – mixed with egg and flour.

Asado siopao has a chunky texture like that of the popular Filipino dish adobo while bola-bola siopao has a smooth texture that like of another popular Filipino dishembutido.

Ingredients for the Siopao Dough

• all-purpose flour – 4 cups
• cake flour – 4 cups
• oil – ¼ cup
• salt – 1 teaspoon; amount can be adjusted according to preference
• sugar – ½ cup; amount can be adjusted according to preference
• water – 2 cups
• yeast – 4 teaspoons

Steps for Making the Siopao Dough

1. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, pour in water.
2. Add in yeast.
3. Set aside for about 30 minutes.
4. Add in all-purpose flour and cake flour.
5. Mix thoroughly.
6. Sprinkle sugar and salt.
7. Mix thoroughly again.
8. Pour in oil.
9. Knead dough until smooth and elastic.
10. Set aside dough on a wax or parchment paper for one and a half to two hours.
11. Divide dough into 20 pieces.
12. Form each of the dough into round shapes.
13. Set aside for another half an hour.
14. Even out the dough.
15. Place siopao filling at the center of the evened out dough.
16. Cover by pulling the corners toward the top center.
17. Wrap by pinching the top center well.
18. Again, place stuffed dough on wax or parchment paper.
19. Set aside for another one hour.
20. After one hour, get a steamer.
21. Line it with cloth.
22. Place siopao in steamer.
23. Cover siopao with another layer of cloth.
24. Steam the siopao for 40 minutes maximum.

Ingredients for the Siopao Asado Stuffing

• bay leaf – 1 piece
• cooking oil – 2 tablespoons
• cornstarch – 2 tablespoons
• egg – 2 pieces; hardboiled; cut into tidbits
• garlic – 3 cloves; minced
• onion – ¼ cup; minced
• pepper – ½ teaspoon; amount can be adjusted according to preference
• pork or beef – ½ kilogram; cooked; cubed
• salt – 1 teaspoon; amount can be adjusted according to preference
• soy sauce – ¼ cup
• sugar – ¼ cup
• water – ½ cup

Steps for Making the Siopao Asado Stuffing

1. In a pan set over medium heat, sauté garlic and onion.
2. Add in pork or beef.
3. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Add in sugar and pour in soy sauce.
5. Pour in water.
6. Place bay leaf.
7. Simmer for about 5 minutes.
8. Place egg.
9. Add in cornstarch.
10. Place stuffing at the middle of leveled out dough for siopao asado.

Ingredients for the Siopao Bola-Bola Stuffing

• egg – 1 piece; raw
• egg – 2 pieces; hardboiled; cut into tidbits
• flour – 2 tablespoons
• garlic – 3 cloves; minced
• onion – ¼ cup
• pepper – ½ teaspoon; amount can be adjusted according to preference
• pork or beef – 1 ½ cups; cooked; grounded
• salt – 1 teaspoon; amount can be adjusted according to preference
• shrimps – ¼ cup; cooked; chopped

Steps for Making the Siopao Bola-Bola Stuffing

1. In a large mixing bowl, place all ingredients except the tidbits of hardboiled egg.
2. Mix thoroughly.
3. Add tidbits of hardboiled egg.
4. Form mixture into small round shapes.
5. Use rounded mixture as stuffing for siopao bola-bola.

Now enjoy your homemade Filipino siopao asado and bola-bola!

Copyright © 2012 Kerlyn Bautista