Authentic home cooking from Japan, with US measurements.

Originally published on Cookpad Japan as 我が家のふかふか肉まんの皮の作り方♪

How to Make Our Fluffy Steamed Bun Dough (Nikuman)

Name: How to Make Our Fluffy Steamed Bun Dough (Nikuman)
Yield: Makes 5 small buns
Ingredients: Makes 5 buns (double for 10 buns); 1 cup (125 g) cake flour (2 cups / 250 g for double batch); 2 1/2 teaspoons (10 g) sugar (5 teaspoons / 20 g for double batch); 1/2 teaspoon (1.5 g) dry yeast (1 teaspoon / 3 g for double batch); 1/2 teaspoon (2 g) baking powder (1 teaspoon / 4 g for double batch); 1/4 cup (60 g) warm water (1/2 cup / 120 g for double batch); 1 teaspoon (5 g) neutral oil, such as vegetable or canola oil (2 teaspoons / 10 g for double batch)

晴れときどき小鳥 @cook_40277303

This is a recipe for soft and fluffy steamed bun (nikuman) dough made with cake flour. You can fill them with any filling you like. (For reference, the photo shows them filled with store-bought meatballs.)

Recipe Background:
I wanted to make steamed buns with a fluffy dough. After trying different combinations, this recipe turned out to be my favorite. The quantities here are for a small batch, perfect for wrapping store-bought meatballs. Feel free to increase the amounts depending on how many buns you want to make or their size.

晴れときどき小鳥 @cook_40277303

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Ingredients

Makes 5 small buns

Makes 5 buns (double for 10 buns)
1 cup (125 g)cake flour (2 cups / 250 g for double batch)
2 1/2 teaspoons (10 g)sugar (5 teaspoons / 20 g for double batch)
1/2 teaspoon (1.5 g)dry yeast (1 teaspoon / 3 g for double batch)
1/2 teaspoon (2 g)baking powder (1 teaspoon / 4 g for double batch)
1/4 cup (60 g)warm water (1/2 cup / 120 g for double batch)
1 teaspoon (5 g)neutral oil, such as vegetable or canola oil (2 teaspoons / 10 g for double batch)
Fill with your favorite ingredients

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Steps

1

★2021/01/06
Ranked in the top 10 for 'steamed bun dough' searches!
★2021/2/2
Became the #1 most searched recipe!
2

Measure all ingredients marked with ★ into a bowl and mix with a dough scraper or spatula.
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Add the warm water and knead until the dough comes together.
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Once the dough starts to come together, add the oil. Transfer to a work surface and knead until the dough is smooth.
5

Shape the dough into a ball, return it to the bowl, cover loosely with plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place for about 30 minutes, until it has increased to about 1.5 times its original size.
6

Divide the dough into 5 pieces and shape each into a ball. Roll each piece into a circle with a rolling pin, keeping the center slightly thicker. Place your filling in the center and pinch the edges together to seal, making pleats as you go.
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Place each bun on a square of parchment paper cut to size. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rise for another 15–20 minutes.
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Arrange the buns in a steamer over boiling water and steam for 15 minutes (or 13 minutes if your filling is already cooked). Enjoy!
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I also have a Cookpad blog. If you're interested, please check it out.
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晴れときどき小鳥 @cook_40277303

Published in the US on August 24, 2025 14:01

つくれぽ投稿して下さった皆様ありがとうございます(´▽｀*)♡ポリ袋の中で生地をこねる『ポリパン』。とても簡単で楽しい＆おいしいんです♪仕事と家事の隙間時間を使って調理動画をアップしています。是非お立ち寄りください。https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHfiaQ93UGtN9QNzLJTo71w/