It’s been hard to miss the super-craze that has been the bao bun or hirata bun. Fluffy, soft dough folded over with finger-licking fillings like char siu pork.

These buns are really easy to make at home! I use these frozen buns that I get at my local Asian grocery store.

You steam them following the instructions on the packet and then fill them with whatever takes your fancy.

For this recipe I’ve gone for mushrooms and halloumi with crunchy salad and a spicy hit of sriracha to finish it off.

Ingredients

• 4 frozen buns
• 100g halloumi
• 5-6 mushrooms
• 1/2 tsp sesame oil
• 2 tsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp mirin
• Sriracha
• Kewpie mayonnaise
• Lettuce finely sliced
• Cucumber cut into thin strips

Method

1. Place the buns into a steamer and heat them following the packet instructions.
2. Chop the mushrooms and halloumi into slices.
3. Pop the halloumi in a frying pan and cook until golden on both sides.
4. Heat up some oil (I use groundnut oil) in another frying pan and add the mushrooms.
5. Pour over the soy sauce and mirin and fry into the mushrooms are fully cooked. Stir in the sesame oil.
6. Once everything is cooked, take a steamed bun, top with a piece of halloumi and some mushrooms. Then finish off with some lettuce and cucumber and a drizzle of mayonnaise and sriracha.