Vietnamese Banh Bao Dough from Scratch

Learn how to make the banh bao dough on your own if you don't have the premix flour on hand. It's really easy and you only need a handful of ingredients that you might already have in your pantry!

📝 Ingredients

• 1 cup of milk, warmed in microwave
• 1 1/4 active dry yeast
• 1/4 cup of sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• 2 1/2 cups of flour
• 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons of baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon of lime juice

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1In a microwave-safe bowl, heat milk for 30...: In a microwave-safe bowl, heat milk for 30 seconds. Ensure the milk is not to hot as you don't want to kill the yeast.
2. 2Add sugar to the warm milk and stir...: Add sugar to the warm milk and stir until dissolved. Add yeast and give it a gentle stir. Let it rest for 10 minutes. The yeast will start frothing.
3. 3Next, you'll want to add in the sugar,...: Next, you'll want to add in the sugar, salt, flour, vegetable oil, and baking powder into a mixer. Using a kneading attachment for the mixing stand or manually, incorporate the dough so that it is no longer sticky and pulls cleanly.
4. 4Cover the bowl with a clean towel or...: Cover the bowl with a clean towel or plastic wrap and allow it to sit in a warm spot for at least 1 hour until the dough doubles in size.
5. 5After resting, remove the dough from the bowl,...: After resting, remove the dough from the bowl, add the lime juice, and knead it to remove bubbles.
6. 6Shape it into a log and divide it...: Shape it into a log and divide it in halves until you have 12 pieces. Roll them into a ball and cover them with a damp cloth. Allow 15 minutes before shaping the dough.
7. 7Place one ball into a floured surface and...: Place one ball into a floured surface and allow it to form a ¼ -inch circle with edges that are thinner at the perimeter than the center.
8. 8Add the filling as needed.
9. 9Allow the steamer to come to a rolling...: Allow the steamer to come to a rolling boil, then turn the heat to low. Place the buns on the steamer with the buns about 1-inch apart.
10. 10Buns with filling should be cooked between 6-8...: Buns with filling should be cooked between 6-8 minutes where buns with raw filling should be cooked between 13-16 minutes.
11. 11Wrap the lid of the steamer with a...: Wrap the lid of the steamer with a kitchen towel to avoid water from dripping into the buns.