Jul 14 2026
Restaurants8595 Restaurant & BarDuck Bao Buns Recipe

Duck Bao Buns Recipe

Time2h 30m
Serves4

Roasted and Pulled Duck, with Hoisin Glaze, Pickled Onions, and Smoked Sesame Seeds

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Ingredients

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For the Duck

For the Pickled Onions

For the Bao Buns

For Garnish

Method

Preparing the Duck

  1. 1

    Roast the Duck

    Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Season the duck legs with salt and black pepper. In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat and sear the duck legs skin-side down until browned (about 5-7 minutes). Flip and cook for another 5 minutes.

  2. 2

    Braise the Duck

    Transfer the duck legs to a baking dish, add hoisin sauce and water, cover with foil, and roast in the oven for 2 hours until tender. Once done, let it cool slightly and pull the meat from the bones.

Pickling the Onions

  1. 3

    Prepare the Pickling Brine

    In a saucepan, combine rice vinegar, sugar, and salt. Heat over medium until the sugar dissolves. Allow to cool.

  2. 4

    Pickle the Onions

    Slice the red onion thinly and place in a jar. Pour the cooled pickling brine over the onions. Seal and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

Making the Bao Buns

  1. 5

    Prepare the Dough

    In a large bowl, mix flour, instant yeast, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add warm water and oil; knead until a smooth dough forms. Cover and let rise for 1 hour or until doubled in size.

  2. 6

    Shape the Buns

    Divide the dough into 8 pieces. Roll each piece into a circle, then fold in half to form a bun shape. Place each bun on a small square of parchment paper.

  3. 7

    Steam the Buns

    In a steamer basket, steam the buns over boiling water for 10-12 minutes until fluffy. Keep warm.

Assembling the Dish

  1. 8

    Assemble the Bao

    Fill each steamed bun with pulled duck, drizzle with hoisin sauce, and top with pickled onions, smoked sesame seeds, and cilantro.

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