Chicken Kimchi Mayo Steamed Buns

Not your usual bao recipe, these fluffy steamed buns are stuffed with Crispy Fried Chicken Tender and slathered in tangy and spicy kimchi mayo sauce.

About Chicken Kimchi Mayo Steamed Buns

I know that bao bun or baozi is Chinese. In addition, this Chicken Kimchi Mayo Steamed Buns recipe is not traditional. I just personally love bao buns because they are the perfect blank canvas for any flavor. They are very versatile and could be stuffed with a variety of ingredients, just like a burger or sandwich.

The Components

Here are three components to make Chicken Kimchi Mayo Steamed Buns:

1. Steamed Buns

I made the steamed buns by myself. The buns are typically in small semi-circular and flat in form, with a horizontal fold. The folded steamed buns could be opened up and filled with a variety of ingredients. You can read the full instruction how to make them along with some useful tips from my previous Steamed Bao Buns recipe.

2. Crispy Fried Chicken Tenders

If you have been following the news, you have probably heard all about the popular fried chicken sandwich. I think fried chicken is everyone’s favorite guilty pleasure. So why don’t I do the same with steamed buns? Crispy Fried Chicken Tenders from my previous post are the perfect size for the filling.

3. Chopped Kimchi

Since I had so much Napa Cabbage Kimchi from my previous homemade batch in my refrigerator, I want to utilize it in the recipe. Kimchi is a traditional side dish made out of salted and fermented vegetables. It has been a staple in Korean cuisine for centuries. The kimchi adds tangy, spicy, and umami flavor to the overall dish, making you want to keep taking a bite.

4. Kimchi Mayo Dressing

Mixed with mayonnaise, the kimchi mayo dressing brings the buns with their uniquely spicy, tangy, and umami flavor profile, giving a little Korean twist to them.

These Chicken Kimchi Mayo Steamed Buns take a lot of effort to make, and they can get demolished in seconds. Once you have all the ingredients prepped, the assembling goes by pretty quickly, These buns are fluffy and soft, while the chicken tenders and kimchi are crispy and delicious. The tangy sauce and sweet bread balance out the rich fried chicken. In addition, the kimchi mayo sauce also adds creaminess with just a perfect amount of spiciness.

More Kimchi Recipes

Do you love kimchi? Try out these delicious recipes!

• Kimchi Kimbap
• Tuna Kimchi Pancakes
• Kimchi Pancake
• Bibimbap
• Kimchi Fried Rice

Yield: 12 servings

Chicken Kimchi Mayo Steamed Buns

Print

Not your usual bao recipe, these fluffy steamed buns are stuffed with Crispy Fried Chicken Tender and slathered in tangy and spicy kimchi mayo sauce.

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 45 minutes

Ingredients

• 12 steamed bao buns
• 1 cup napa cabbage kimchi (240 gr), finely chopped

Crispy Fried Chicken Tenders

• 500 gr boneless skinless chicken thighs
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 2/3 cup all-purpose flour (80 gr)
• 1/3 cup cornstarch (40 gr)
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 egg
• 2 tbsp water

Kimchi Mayo Dressing

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise (115 gr)
• 1/4 cup napa cabbage kimchi (60 gr)
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1/2 tbsp sesame oil

Garnish

• chopped scallions
• toasted sesame seeds

Instructions

Crispy Fried Chicken Tenders

1. Cut the chicken into 1-inch thick strips. Season the chicken with salt and black pepper. Set aside.
2. Combine all-purpose flour, cornstarch, salt, and black pepper until well combined in a shallow dish. Set aside.
3. In a shallow bowl, beat egg and water until incorporated. Set aside.
4. Dredge the chicken in the flour mixture, coating well. Shake off the excess flour and dip in the egg, and back in the flour.
5. Set the chicken to the side to rest for about 5 minutes.
6. Place 2-inches of oil into a big frying pan. Preheat the oil in medium-high heat until the oil is 350°F/175°C.
7. Dip the chicken back into the flour mixture until the chicken is fully coated. Drop the chicken into the heated oil one by one and cook until golden brown for about 4-5 minutes.
8. Transfer the cooked fried chicken to a paper towel-lined plate. Set aside.

Kimchi Mayo Dressing

1. Drain the kimchi to ensure the mayo does not get too runny.
2. In a food processor, blend mayonnaise, kimchi, soy sauce, and sesame oil until smooth. Adjust the dressing by adding kimchi water until you get the desired consistency.

Assembly

1. Split the buns and stuff each one with 1 tbsp chopped kimchi and 1-2 crispy fried chicken tenders. Drizzle with some kimchi mayo dressing. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and chopped green onion or scallions. Serve immediately.

Did you make this recipe?

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