Pumpkin Steamed Pork Buns 🎃

Pumpkin Steamed Pork Buns 🎃

These soft, fluffy buns are the perfect Halloween treat — cute, festive, and just a little spooky. Shaped like pumpkins and filled with savory pork, they’re cozy, fun to make, and guaranteed to impress at any Halloween get-together (or cozy night in)! 

Watch our TikTok for this recipe! 

Cooking Time: 1 hour 30 minutes (1 hour prepping)
Serves: 1–2 people

Ingredients

  • ž cup whole milk
  • 1 tsp yeast
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • A pinch of salt
  • Orange food coloring
  • 300g minced pork 9 (or beef or veggies) 
  • 1½ tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp minced garlic 
  • 1 tbsp minced ginger
  • 1-2 tbsp chopped scallions (keep the bottom part for decoration) 
  • Dash of sesame oil 
  • White pepper, to taste 
  • Crispy chilli oil 
  • Cooking string 
  • Baking paper 
  • Nori seaweed (for funny faces) 

Instructions 

  1. In a bowl, mix together the flour, yeast, milk, and salt until a dough forms.
    Add the orange food coloring bit by bit as you knead — the more you add, the deeper the pumpkin color will be. Knead the dough for about 10 minutes until smooth, then cover and let it rest for 1 hour. (Tip: wear gloves to avoid orange hands!) 

  2. While the dough rests, mix together the minced pork (or your choice of filling) with soy sauce, sesame oil, minced garlic, ginger, chopped scallions, and white pepper.
    Adjust seasoning to taste.
    Set aside. (Keep the bottom white part of the scallions — they’ll become your pumpkin “stems” later!)

  3. Once the dough has risen, lightly flour your surface and roll it out into a circle.
    Divide into 4 equal pieces.
    Roll 3 pieces into balls and cover with a towel to prevent drying. Take one piece and roll it into a flat circle — keeping the middle slightly thicker so the filling holds better.
    Add a spoonful of filling in the center.

  4. Pinch the edges around the filling, folding in a circular motion until it’s sealed at the top.
    Gently roll it between your hands to form a smooth ball.

  5. Cut 4 long pieces of cooking string and lay them out in a star shape (like an ✳️).
    Place the bun in the center (sealed side up) and tie the strings around it gently to create pumpkin ridges. Don’t tie too tight! — the dough will expand while steaming. 

  6. Remove the strings carefully once steamed.
    Stick a small piece of scallion bottom on top as the pumpkin stem.
    Cut out little faces from nori seaweed and stick them on for a spooky touch.

  7. Finish with a generous drizzle of crispy chili oil — it makes them scarier… but definitely more delicious 😏🔥

And there you have it — your own pumpkin-shaped steamed pork buns!
Soft, savory, and a little spooky. It's perfect for sharing at your Halloween dinner, bringing to a party, or just enjoying while watching your favorite scary movie.

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