Chicken Pao Recipe

Mak Erot

4 min read

·

Apr 04, 2025

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Chicken Pao Recipe: A Step-by-Step Guide to Fluffy Perfection

Are you craving soft, fluffy bao buns filled with delicious, savory chicken? Look no further! This comprehensive guide will walk you through making incredible chicken pao from scratch. We'll cover everything from making the dough to preparing the succulent chicken filling, ensuring you achieve perfectly pillowy bao buns every time. Get ready to impress your family and friends with this delightful recipe!

What is Chicken Pao?

Chicken pao, also known as ji pao (鸡包), are steamed buns filled with a variety of savory chicken fillings. These buns are a popular street food and dim sum item across many Asian countries. The soft, fluffy texture of the bao paired with the flavorful chicken filling makes for an irresistible combination.

Ingredients You'll Need:

This recipe is broken down into two main parts: the bao bun dough and the chicken filling.

For the Bao Bun Dough:

• 250g Bread Flour (or All-Purpose Flour)
• 50g Sugar
• 5g Instant Yeast
• 125ml Warm Water
• 25g Unsalted Butter, softened
• 1/4 teaspoon Salt

For the Chicken Filling:

• 250g Ground Chicken
• 1 small Onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves Garlic, minced
• 1 inch Ginger, minced
• 1 tablespoon Soy Sauce
• 1 tablespoon Oyster Sauce
• 1 teaspoon Sesame Oil
• 1/2 teaspoon Five-Spice Powder
• 1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper
• 1 tablespoon Cornstarch (optional, for thickening)
• 2 Spring Onions, finely chopped (for garnish)

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Making the Bao Bun Dough:

1. Activate the Yeast: In a large bowl, combine warm water and sugar. Sprinkle yeast over the mixture and let it stand for 5-10 minutes until foamy. This proves the yeast is active.
2. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together flour and salt.
3. Mix Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the yeast mixture, mixing with a wooden spoon or spatula until a shaggy dough forms.
4. Knead the Dough: Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Add a little more flour if the dough is too sticky.
5. Add Butter: Gradually incorporate the softened butter into the dough, kneading until fully incorporated.
6. First Rise: Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, turning to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm place for 1-1.5 hours, or until doubled in size.

Preparing the Chicken Filling:

1. Sauté Aromatics: Heat a tablespoon of oil in a wok or large pan over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, and ginger and sauté until fragrant (about 2 minutes).
2. Cook Chicken: Add ground chicken to the pan and cook until browned and cooked through, breaking it up with a spoon.
3. Season and Simmer: Stir in soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, five-spice powder, and black pepper. Simmer for 5-7 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld. If the sauce is too thin, add cornstarch slurry (mix cornstarch with a little water) to thicken.
4. Cool and Garnish: Remove from heat and let the chicken filling cool completely. Stir in spring onions.

Assembling and Steaming the Chicken Pao:

1. Shape the Buns: Punch down the risen dough and divide it into 8-10 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a smooth ball.
2. Fill the Buns: Roll each dough ball into a circle (about 4 inches in diameter). Place a spoonful of chicken filling in the center.
3. Seal the Buns: Bring the edges of the dough together to enclose the filling, pinching tightly to seal. You can pleat the edges for a more decorative look.
4. Steam the Buns: Line a steamer basket with parchment paper. Place the assembled bao buns in the steamer basket, ensuring they are not overcrowded. Steam over medium-high heat for 12-15 minutes, or until the buns are fluffy and cooked through.

Serving and Enjoying Your Chicken Pao

Serve your freshly steamed chicken pao while still warm. These are delicious on their own or served with a dipping sauce of your choice, such as soy sauce or sweet chili sauce. Enjoy!

Tips for Success:

• Use fresh ingredients: The quality of your ingredients will greatly affect the flavor of your chicken pao.
• Don't overwork the dough: Over-kneading can result in tough bao buns.
• Let the dough rise properly: Allowing the dough sufficient time to rise is crucial for achieving soft and fluffy bao buns.
• Don't overcrowd the steamer: Overcrowding will prevent the buns from steaming evenly.

This recipe provides a foundation for you to explore variations. Feel free to experiment with different fillings, spices, and sauces to create your own signature chicken pao! Happy baking!