Tangy Asian BBQ Pulled Pork Buns (2024)

Stop into any Asian Gastropub and you’ll find a myriad of vegetarian, beef, shrimp and pork bao buns on the menu. We can’t get enough of those fluffy steamed rolls with all types of wonderful fillings. These pulled pork buns use leftovers from this Asian BBQ pork shoulder recipe to make the best Chinese bbq pork buns for snacks, appetizers, or even an easy dinner.

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One of our favorite dining spots in Boca Raton is KaPow! A funky little indoor/outdoor Asian style gastropub with amazing bites, great happy hours and pretty much the best pork bao buns anywhere in South Florida. I like them so much, I created my own version of their Chinese bbq pork buns that I could make anytime at home (and so can you). The pulled pork buns are sweet, tangy and spicy with fresh toppings that brighten up every bite. Trust me, you will LOVE them.

Ingredients for pulled pork buns

• Bao Buns (from scratch or store-bought)
• Cabbage Leaves (for steaming)
• Leftover Asian Pulled Pork
• Leftover marinade from Asian Pulled Pork recipe
• Carrot
• Radish
• Scallions
• Toasted Sesame Seeds
• Fresh Cilantro
• Quick Pickled Onions

I admit, one of the main reasons I made that Asian Pulled Pork recipe was because I KNEW it was going to make the perfect filling for steamed bao buns.

Making Bao buns from scratch tends to be a project best left for a rainy Saturday, but once you’ve done it, you’ll end up with a BUNCH of soft, sweet bao buns just begging for a tasty filling.

Since it’s a project, I freeze the bao so that I can pull out a few anytime I’m hankering for Chinese bbq pork buns. Like now.

If you don’t have a freezer full of these spongy little vessels, you can also buy them already made and ready to steam at your local Asian market.

Special equipment for pulled pork bao

Chinese steamed buns (a.k.a bao buns) are cooked in a steamer. I recommend using a Chinese bamboo steamer {shameless affiliate link} because you can add several layers to a bamboo steamer (kind of like a tower), which means you can steam more buns at one time instead of in several batches. Bamboo steamers are really inexpensive and they’re useful for much more than just BBQ pork buns.

Other uses for bamboo steamers

Use bamboo steamers to steam vegetables, seafood even delicate fish without marring the skin or flesh by having to turn it. Steaming surrounds the food, cooking it gently, while keeping the food moist. Because you’re literally cooking with steam, this method doesn’t add any calories to the food, so it’s also great for diets. Bamboo steamers are uniquely equipped to steam food and absorb the excess water instead of dripping the evaporated droplets back onto the food and they dry out quickly while holding their shape and integrity.

How to steam buns

1. To use a bamboo steamer, add about ½” of water to the bottom of a large pot or pan (that the steamer will easily fit into.)
2. Place cabbage leaves or lettuce leaves on the steamer “grates” (this will prevent the Asian buns from sticking to the bamboo.
3. Add as many buns to the steamer as will fit (and stack as high as you need to)
4. Bring the water to a boil and steam the buns for 7-8 minutes or until they’re puffy and light. They’re ready to fill.

Pork bao buns are like Asian tacos

I consider these Chinese bbq pork buns to be the Asian equivalent of a taco. The steamed bao is a soft, puffy conduit to transport the pulled pork and your favorite toppings directly to your mouth.

Aside from a heaping spoonful of Asian pulled pork, we also like grated carrots, matchstick radishes, tangy pickled onions, fresh cilantro and a drizzle of the leftover dipping sauce.

Add the condiments to your bao as you would stuff a taco, then hunch over your plate and gobble it up.

Of course, you can add other savory toppings to your pulled pork buns. Just look in the fridge to see what you’ve got on hand.

Other fun pulled pork bao toppings

• Thinly sliced cucumbers or quick pickled cucumbers
• Shredded cabbage
• Kimchi
• Pickled ginger
• Sriracha sauce
• Hoisin sauce
• Tart Granny Smith apple, julienned
• Asian pear, julienned

When I make these Chinese style pork bao, everyone gets excited.

They love the assertive flavors that pop with every bite of the Asian pulled pork stuffed buns. The zingy marinade hits every part of your tongue, and the tender, warm Chinese bbq pork is so unctuous your eyes will roll back in your head. At least, that’s been my experience.

C’mon, doesn’t that look good?

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