Bao is a type of filled bun or bread-like dumpling that originates from Chinese cuisines. It is made with a mix of flour, yeast, sugar, baking powder, milk, and oil, resulting in a sweet, white dough that is a tad sweeter than its closely related cousin, the dumpling. The dough is leavened with yeast, which causes it to rise during the process of steaming. Bao buns can be filled with a variety of ingredients, including pork, veggies, potatoes, and much more. They are mostly steamed but can also be pan-fried or baked. The perfect bao should be light, round, and soft, renowned for being light and fluffy. The dough is usually flattened and folded into a half-circle shape, then opened up to wrap a variety of fillings for serving.
In summary, bao is a type of Chinese food made of wheat flour-based, leavened dough filled with savory or sweet fillings. It is a sweet, white dough made with flour, yeast, sugar, baking powder, milk, and oil, and is renowned for being light and fluffy.
