Steamed Red Bean Buns by: Judy 0 Comments Jump to Recipe Posted:1/06/2021Updated:1/06/2021 These classic Steamed Red Bean Buns are known as dòu bāo (豆包) to Northerners, and dòushā bāo (豆沙包) to Southerners.It took me a while to realize that both refer to this same delicious fluffy bun with sweet red bean filling.  A Childhood Favorite As a child so many moons ago, steamed red bean buns were the apple of my eye—my absolute favorite.  In the way that little children’s minds fixate on things, I wanted it, I wanted it, and I wanted it! At the time, my love for steamed red bean buns went way above people’s love for other popular Shanghai favorites like Youtiao (fried dough) or Pan-fried Pork Buns.But I just couldn’t get my little hands on one! I was told we were short on money, which was true for many people in China in the 1960s-1970s.  Plus, making steamed buns was not something Shanghainese families did at home in those days.

We left it to the specialists hawking steamed buns along with other breakfast treats like Shanghai wontons.Suffice it to say, it was what you might call a love-hate relationship.  Today, I ask myself why I waited this long to write up this steamed red bean bun recipe.I think my subconscious mind really just wants to forsake that sad childhood memory!  But while it was hard for me to get my hands on these, the few times I was able to taste these were bittersweet.

All the more reason f

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