Welcome to The Storied Recipe Podcast, a podcast about food, culture, and love.
I've curated this list of 17 Sweet and Savory Bun Recipes in conjunction with the episode "Lunar New Year Memories with Emily Ho" and Vegan Pineapple Buns (Chinese Bolo Bao) recipe while you make the perfect sweet and savory buns during Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) celebrations.
Chinese (Lunar) New Year is one of the most important holidays in China, Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, and Indonesia, as well as many other countries around the world, so it is no surprise that food is a major part of the celebrations! Traditional foods that are eaten during the 16 day celebration include, dumplings (for wealth), fish (for abundance), Nian Gao (for progress), citrus, such as oranges (for luck), just name a few. You might notice that buns aren't a part of this list, however, many holiday feasts will have some sort of sweet or savory bun on the table so I have compiled a list bun recipes that you and your family can enjoy to ring in the new year. Xin Nian Kuai Le!! 新年快乐!! Happy New Year!!
How To Use This List
- You might be confused by all the many names that are used when describing this holiday, and you wouldn't be alone! I think the most popular name for us in the West is "Chinese New Year", but this can be a little misleading because many countries celebrate this holiday, not only China. Other names are Spring Festival (Chūnjié 春节) and Lunar New Year.
- There is no way for me to have showcased many of the buns that are traditionally eaten during all of the festivities, so if you would like to see a recipe that is not included in this list, please let me know and I will add it to the list!
- Each recipe is formatted as the title of the recipe, followed by a "|" symbol and then the blog or person who it is from.
- I've split this list into the following categories: Sweet Buns, Savory Buns, Pan-fried Buns.
Sweet Buns
This category of sweet buns is a little more playful and creative than the other two categories. Below, you will find a recipe for Pineapple Buns, and even though they contain no pineapple, pineapple is a part of the celebrations in Singapore, Malaysia, and Taiwan because it symbolizes good fortune, wealth, and prosperity. Another playful take on a sweet bun is the beautiful (and realistic!) orange buns recipe from Ms Shi & Mr He. Oranges symbolize luck, so eating both Pineapple and Orange Buns during the Spring Festival will surely help you start the year off right!
Vegan Pineapple Buns (Chinese Bolo Bao) | The Storied Recipe
These soft, fluffy, sweet Bolo Bao buns are encased in a crispy shortbread-like dough. Also called Chinese Pineapple Buns.
Chinese New Year Gold Ingot Steamed Buns (Jin Yuanbao Baozi) | What To Cook Today
Soft fluffy steamed buns with natural color from pumpkin and shaped into Chinese gold ingot (jin yuanbao) that symbolize prosperity to welcome the Chinese New Year.
Chinese Orange Steamed Buns | Ms Shi & Mr He
This recipe teaches you how to make orange-shape Chinese steamed buns (mantou) step by step. Perfect for Chinese New Year!
Black Sesame Buns
Full of flavor black sesame buns with an aromatic and well-balanced filling. This is a cloud-like steamed bun with aromatic black sesame filling. If you love buns and don't love meat buns so much, try
Korean Steamed Sweet Red Bean Paste Buns (Jjinppang)
Steamed buns filled with a sweet red bean paste (jjinppang) is a great snack the whole family will enjoy. This is also a great vegan and vegetarian snack or dessert option!
Chinese Steamed Custard Buns
Chinese steamed custard buns recipe that yields a tender pastry with just the right amount of sweetness. A popular dessert at Dim Sum made right at home!
Savory Buns
Savory buns, often symbolizing abundance, good fortune, and unity, offer an abundance of delicious and unique variations from around the world. These steamed versions are filled with richly seasoned meats or vegetables are shared at family meals and festive gatherings.
Mantou (馒头), Chinese Steamed Buns | Red House Spice
An easy & quick way to make Mantou, Chinese steamed buns. My detailed instructions and tutorial video will help you to succeed.
Steamed BBQ Pork Buns (Char Siu Bao) Recipe | The Woks of Life
This Chinese Steamed BBQ Pork Buns (Char Siu Bao) recipe unlocks the secret to the perfect steamed pork bun just like you get at the dim sum restaurant
Traditional Banh Bao Recipe (Vietnamese Steamed Pork Buns) | Cooking Therapy
A detailed, step-by-step guide on how to make banh bao or Vietnamese steamed pork buns. This dish is a labor of love but it's worth it!
Bapao: Indonesian Steamed Bun | Toine's Kitchen
Learn to make these delicious steamed buns. This Indonesian Bapao recipe creates the most delicious buns filled with sweet beef. The bread is fluffy, the filling is meaty but sweet. Since these bun…
Gua Bao (Taiwanese Pork Belly Buns, 割包) | Omnivore's Cookbook
Gua Bao is a dim sum classic featuring delicious braised pork belly stuffed into fluffy bao buns for a tasty traditional treat! {Gluten-Free Adaptable}
Siopao Bola-Bola (Filipino Steamed Pork Buns) | Foxy Folksy
This Siopao Bola-Bola is the Filipino version of Steamed Pork Buns. Made extra special with the addition of salted eggs and Chinese sausage.
Bak Kwa Steam Bun 肉干包子 | Ruyi Asian Recipes
What to do with leftover Bak Kwa during Chinese New Year? Try my Bak Kwa Steam Buns. These steam buns are cottony soft and fluffy and taste so good with smoky sweet savoury Bak Kwa. Easy breakfast idea.
Pan-Fried Buns
Typically, buns will be soft and fluffy, but the recipes below offer a fluffy, crispy alternative. Also, I have added in a vegan option in this category so there is an option for everyone at your table regardless of any dietary restrictions.
Pan-fried Steamed Buns (Sheng Jian Bao) | WoonHeng
Fluffy and crispy Pan-fried Steamed Veggie Buns (Sheng Jian Bao) with a crispy bottom layer that you can't stop with just one bite.
Pan-fried Bao Buns (Vegan Steamed Dumplings) | Bianca Zapatka
This is a simple step-by-step recipe for pan-fried steamed Bao buns „sheng Jian bao" - The vegan version of pork soup dumplings stuffed with leek & veggies!
Sweet Pan-fried Chinese Buns | China Sichuan Food
Simple and easy pan-fried Chinese sweet red bean paste buns.
Hua Juan (Chinese Flower Rolls/Scallion Buns) - The Woks of Life
Chinese hua juan, or flower rolls (also known in English as scallion buns) are surprisingly tasty despite the simplicity of this recipe!
More Lunar New Year Recipes
More Lists for Inspiration
Recipe
Sweet and Savory Bun Recipes for Chinese New Year
Description
Elevate your Lunar New Year celebration with 17 easy-to-follow bun recipes. Explore a mix of traditional savory meats and sweet desserts to bring luck to your table.
Ingredients
Sweet Buns
- Chinese Pineapple Buns (Bolo Bao) from Helen Au, guest of The Storied Recipe
- Chinese Gold Ingot Steamed Buns (Jin Yuanbao Baozi) from What To Cook Today
- Steamed Buns Recipe - Orange Mantou from Ms Shi and Mr He
- Black Sesame Steamed Buns from China Sichuan Food
- Korean Red Bean Steamed Buns (Jjinppang 찐빵) from Asian Recipes At Home
- Steamed Custard Buns (Nai Wong Bao) from Jessica Gavin
Savory Buns
- Chinese Mantou from Red House Spice
- Cantonese Char Siu Bao from The Woks of Life
- Vietnamese Banh Bao from Cooking Therapy
- Bapao: Indonesian Steamed Bun from Toine's Kitchen
- Taiwanese Gua Bao from Omnivore's Cookbook
- Filipino Siopao Bola-Bola (Steamed Pork Bun) from Foxy Folksy
- Malaysia Bak Kwa Steam Bun from Ruyi Asian Recipes
Pan-fried Buns
- Pan-fried Steamed Buns (Sheng Jian Bao) from Woon Heng
- Pan-fried Bao Buns Vegan Steamed Dumplings from Bianca Zapatka
- Pan-fried Sweet Chinese Buns from China Sichuan Food
- Chinese Scallion Flower Buns (Hua Juan) from The Woks of Life
Instructions
Cue up the episode!
Make sure you listen to Emily Ho's episode of The Storied Recipe Podcast, "Lunar New Year Memories" while these delicious buns.
Would love to hear from you!