How To Make Hu Jiao Bing (Taiwanese Pepper Meat Buns)

Step 1

Place all the ingredients for the filling, except for green onion in a large mixing bowl. Stir to mix everything. Cover and let chill in the refrigerator for 8-12 hours

Step 2

Place flour, sugar, salt, and yeast in a mixing bowl. Whisk to combine. I use a stand mixer with the dough hook attachment to knead the dough. Add lard/coconut oil and gradually add in the warm water until it comes into a dough. Continue to knead until the dough is smooth and not sticky. Cover and let rise in a warm place until it's doubled in size, about 30-45 minutes

Step 3

Remove the filling from the fridge and then add the chopped green onion and stir again to combine. Divide the filling equally into six portions. You can also choose not to combine the chopped green onion into the meat filling like how it's traditionally done. Preheat oven to 400 F (204 C)

Step 4

Flatten the dough down and punch to push out all air. Divide the dough into 6 equal pieces. Keep the rest covered and work with one dough at a time. Flatten one dough and roll out into a round circle about 6-7 inches in diameter. Scoop one filling and place it on the middle of the dough. Gather the edge of the dough to pinch and seal. Repeat with the rest of the dough and meat filling

Step 5

If you didn't combine the green onion in the meat mixture earlier, don't seal the bun just yet, scoop 1/6 of the chopped green onion and stuff on top of the meat filling, gently push it in and then gather the edge of the dough to pinch and seal. It's a bit harder to wrap this way, but that's how it's traditionally done. Continue with the rest of the dough and meat filling

Step 6

Place the wrapped buns, seam side down on a baking sheet lined with a parchment paper. Brush the top surface of the buns with honey + water mixture evenly and then gently pick up the buns and dip the bun into the sesame seeds

Step 7

Place in the preheated oven, 3rd rack from the top, and bake for the next 20 minutes or until the buns are golden brown and the meat filling is cooked through inside

Step 8

Remove from the oven and then transfer to a cooling rack. Serve warm