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Freshly baked BBQ Pork Bolo Bao with golden crispy topping and BBQ pork filling.

BBQ PORK BOLO BAO: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO THIS ICONIC HONG KONG PASTRY

BBQ Pork Bolo Bao is a classic Hong Kong-style bakery bun with a crispy pineapple topping and a savory-sweet BBQ pork filling (char siu). A perfect blend of textures and flavors, this bun is a must-try for lovers of Cantonese pastries.
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Prep Time 2 hours
Cook Time 18 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 18 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: Cantonese, Chinese, hong kong
Calories: 320
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • For the Bun Dough
  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup warm milk
  • 2 tsp instant yeast
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 2 tbsp butter (softened)
  • 1 egg
  • For the Pineapple Topping
  • 1 cup cake flour
  • ¼ cup butter (softened)
  • ½ cup powdered sugar
  • 1 egg yolk
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • For the BBQ Pork Filling
  • 1 cup char siu (BBQ pork), diced
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
  • 1 tbsp oyster sauce
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tsp cornstarch + 1 tbsp water (slurry)

Method
 

  1. Make the Dough: Combine warm milk, yeast, and sugar. Let it activate for 5 minutes. Add flour, egg, and butter. Knead for 10 minutes until smooth. Cover and let rise for 1–2 hours.
  2. Prepare the Topping: Cream butter and powdered sugar, then mix in egg yolk, flour, and baking powder. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  3. Make the Filling: Heat soy sauce, hoisin sauce, oyster sauce, and sugar in a pan. Add char siu and cornstarch slurry. Cook until thick. Let cool.
  4. Assemble: Divide the dough into 12 pieces. Flatten, fill with BBQ pork, and seal. Roll out the topping dough and cover each bun.
  5. Bake: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Brush buns with egg wash and bake for 15–18 minutes until golden brown.
  6. Serve: Let cool slightly and enjoy warm with Hong Kong-style milk tea!

Notes

  • For Bolo Yau (菠蘿油), slice the bun and add a piece of cold butter inside.
  • Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days, or reheat in the oven at 300°F (150°C) for 5 minutes.