The ONLY Thumbnail Crispy Buns (拇指生煎包) Recipe You Need

No kneading, no marinating. Just a simple frying pan and a pair of hands are what you need.

【Ingredients】

1 pack of dumpling skins
[ Broth for Fillings ]
2 scallions (sectioned)
2 tbsp Szechuan peppercorn
2 star anises
1 tbsp chicken stock concentrate
[ Fillings ]
500 g minced pork (use 30% fat for best result)
2 scallions (chopped)
1 egg
2 tbsp light soy sauce
1 tbsp oyster sauce
½ tbsp dark soy sauce
½ tbsp five spice powder
1 tsp grater ginger
1 tsp ground cumin
[ Garnishes ]
1 scallion (chopped)
Toasted black sesame seeds

【Steps】

1. Section 2 scallions briefly and chop the rest finely. Save the chopped scallions for fillings and garnishing.
2. Add the scallion sections, Szechuan peppercorn, and star anise to 1 cup of water, and bring it to a boil.
3. Discard all solid ingredients and add 1 tbsp of chicken stock concentrate to the liquid. Stir well, then allow the stock to chill aside before adding to the bun fillings.
4. In a bowl, add the chopped scallions and other filling ingredients (minced pork, egg, light soy sauce, oyster sauce, dark soy sauce, five spice powder, grated ginger, and ground cumin) to 500 g of ground meat.
5. Pour the chilled stock, little by little, into the mixture while stirring in one direction.
6. Place a sheet of dumpling skin on your non-dominant palm. Scoop ½ tbsp of the filling and place it in the center of the skin.
7. Wet your finger with drinking water and moisten the edge of the skin. Lift one side of the skin, pinch a small part of the edge between your thumb and index finger, and fold it over into a pleat. Repeat the pleating while slowly rotating the skin in one direction until your last pleat collides with your first, then you'll have a bun.
8. Add 1 tbsp of cooking oil to your skillet and load the pan with buns. Sear the buns over medium-low heat for 3 minutes.
9. Add a small bowl of starch water, just enough to cover half the height of the buns. Cover the skillet with a lid and continue to cook until about 80% of the water is reduced, approximately 5-7 minutes.
10. Remove the lid and continue to reduce the water. Garnish the buns with chopped scallions and toasted black sesame seeds before plating.

#buns #crispybuns #easyrecipe #bunrecipe