Toasted Chicken Asado Siopao (Hot Buns) with Cheese

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In the Philippines, steamed buns stuffed with meat and sweet sauce are known as "siopao" and may be purchased at most any restaurant or bakery.

Steamed versions of these buns turn the succulent meat within into a white, moist, pillowy ball of deliciousness. The secret to this recipe's success is baking the buns until they're brown and shining on top and stuffed with meat that has been marinated in sauce.

To compliment the toasted and buttery flavor of the buns, I've prepared a stuffing of chicken breast cooked with the salty, sweet, and licorice flavor (asado) of star anise. The filling is given an extra creamy flavor thanks to a cube of cheese, which may or may not leak out with every bite.

In the Philippines, "asado" sauce is often used to further enhance the flavor of siopao's already decadent filling. Even while it's not required, slathering this bun in sauce will make eating it that much more rewarding.

With the addition of the creamy cheese and the umami flavor of the excellent sauce, these hot buns take bread to a whole new level.

Makes 20 buns

Ingredients:

Dough:

2 cups bread flour

1 cup all purpose flour

1/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup warm fresh milk

3 tbsp unsalted butter

1/2 tsp salt

1 egg

1 yeast mixture*

*Yeast mixture:

1/4 cup warm water

1 tsp sugar

2 tsp instant yeast

• Combine all ingredients, mix and let sit for 10 minutes until it blooms (foam formation)

Egg wash: 1 egg mixed with 1 tbsp of water

Let's make the dough:

1. In a stand mixer bowl, in low speed, mix bread flour and yeast mixture until well combined.

2. Add egg, sugar, milk, continue mixing until smooth or when dough is no longer sticks to the bowl.

3. Transfer dough in separate greased large bowl.

4. Let dough rise until it doubles in size (30 mins)

5. Release air from dough. Roll dough into a log.

6. Cut dough into 20 pieces (40 grams each)

7. Assemble with filling

Preparing Chicken Filling:

500 grams chicken breast

1 tsp sesame oil

3 cups water

salt and pepper

Let's boil the chicken:

1. While waiting for the dough to rise, in a medium pot, add chicken, water, salt and pepper and sesame oil. Let is boil for 30 mins.

2. Reserve chicken broth

3. Shred chicken

Filling:

1 small onion, chopped

1 tsp black pepper

3 cloves garlic

2 star anise

2 tbsp oyster sauce

2 tbsp hoisin sauce

1 cup chicken broth (from boiling chicken)

1 tbsp sesame oil

1/2 cup brown sugar

*Slurry: 2 tbsp cornstarch dissolved in 2 tbsp water

Cheddar cheese, cubed

Let's make the sauce for the chicken:

1. In a medium pot, heat sesame oil. Sauté garlic, onions and star anise until soft and aromatic.

2. Add shredded chicken, broth, pepper, brown sugar, oyster sauce, and hoisin sauce. Let it simmer for 15 minutes.

3. Add slurry. Continue until sauce thickens.

4. Remove from heat and let it cool.

Asado Sauce: (optional)

1 cup water

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 tsp oyster sauce

3 tbsp soy sauce

1 tsp sesame oil

2 star anise

Salt and pepper

*Slurry: 2 1/2 tsp cornstarch dissolved in 2 tsp water

Let's make it more special with extra sauce:

1. In a sauce pan, in medium heat, mix water, brown sugar, oyster sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, star anise, salt and pepper. Stir until sugar completely dissolved.

2. Whisk in slurry. Continue whisking until sauce thickens.

3. Remove from heat. Let it cool.

4. You can transfer sauce in a squeeze sauce bottle.

Let's Assemble the Bun!

1. Flatten cut out dough, and fill with 1 tbsp of chicken filling. Top with cubed cheese.

2. Grab edges of the dough to wrap the filling inside. Twist and seal on top. Continue with the remaining dough and filling.

3. Brush top of each bun with egg wash.

4. Let buns rest for 30 mins (2nd rise)

Let's bake the Buns:

1. Preheat oven at 350F. Bake buns for 15 to 20 mins or when tops are golden brown.

2. Serve warm with sauce (optional). Enjoy!