Best Steamed Pork Belly Buns With Hoisin Balsamic Recipes

SPIT-ROASTED PORK BELLY BUNS

Steps:

• Rub both sides of the pork belly with the vegetable oil. Season with salt, pepper and Chinese five-spice powder.
• Roll the belly into a cylinder, skin side out, and truss tightly with butcher's twine. Place on a spit and roast until tender, with a drip pan underneath to catch the rendered fat, 3½-4 hours. To crisp the skin, stop the spit from rotating so that the skin gets broiled and puffy (watch carefully, as this will happen quickly); then turn to crisp all sides. (Note: If you don't have a spit, place the trussed pork belly on a rack set inside a roasting pan, with the seam side down, and add about a cup of water to the bottom of the roasting pan. Cover with aluminum foil and roast at 325 degrees F for 3½ hours. Turn the oven up to 500 F, remove the foil, and let the skin crisp up for the last 30 minutes.)
• Remove the belly from the spit, and allow it to rest outside the oven while you prepare the buns. Prepare a steam basket set over a wok partially filled with boiling water, or use a pasta insert elevated over a pot of water. Steam the buns to reheat, 5-10 minutes.
• To portion the pork belly, remove the butcher's twine and slice with a serrated knife. Assemble the buns by layering hoisin sauce, sliced cucumber, scallion whites and a piece of the pork belly. Serve immediately.

STEAMED PORK BUNS WITH HOISIN DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Special equipment: 1 (2 1/2 or 2 3/4-inch) biscuit cutter; steamer, steamer basket or bamboo steamer
• For the pork buns: Bring 2 cups water to a simmer in a pot that will fit a steamer basket or a bamboo steamer.
• In a medium bowl, mix together the pork, ginger and scallions. Set aside
• Working with 1 dough canister (10 biscuits) at a time, roll out the biscuits with a rolling pin until they are about 3 to 3 1/2 inches in diameter. Place 1 heaping tablespoon pork mixture in the center of 5 of the biscuits. Cover each with a remaining rolled-out biscuits. Gently press the biscuits together all the way around the filling and to the edges. Place a (2 1/2 or 2 3/4-inch) biscuit cutter on top so that it is centered on the bun. Press down on the cutter to form a clean, sealed edge and remove the excess dough from around the outside of the biscuit cutter. (If you do not have a biscuit cutter then just pinch together the edges of the buns with your fingers.) Place the sealed buns onto a sheet tray and cover with plastic wrap. Repeat with the remaining ingredients.
• Place the buns into the steamer basket. Depending on the size of your steamer, you may have to cook the buns in batches of 5. Place the steamer basket over the pot of simmering water, cover and steam, about 10 minutes. The buns will be puffed and the tops will look somewhat dry and shiny. Let cool 1 to 2 minutes.
• While the buns are steaming, make the hoisin dipping sauce: In a small bowl, stir together the hoisin, soy sauce, 2 tablespoons water and the vinegar. Serve with the buns.