Bao Buns For Pork Buns

Our answer

Nigella's Pork Buns recipe (from SIMPLY NIGELLA) has tender braised pork belly that is shredded and stuffed into soft steamed buns. The buns are "bao" buns and are usually sold frozen. When buying the buns, make sure that they are plain and unfilled as some buns are sold filled as ready-made dim sum. Nigella buys the Mong Lee Shang buns from a local Chinese supermarket and if you have a local Asian market then that is the best place to start searching. On-line sources can be found, but as the buns are usually sold frozen the delivery is often restricted to small areas.

We have noted that the buns are labelled on the packaging as "doubled slice bun" or "Gua Bao Hirata" buns and have also seen them on-line labelled as "lotus-style roll". So it may be worth asking or searching for these as well as bao buns. It is also possible to make your own bao buns and they can be made a day in advance and then steamed on the day. There are several recipes available on-line.