Chinese Curry Beef Buns

Name: Chinese Curry Beef Buns
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 150 min
Ingredients: 300 g lean ground beef; 1 large white onion (finely diced); 3 cloves garlic (minced); 3 Tbsp curry powder; 1/2 tsp sea salt; 2 Tbsp granulated sugar; 1 Tbsp soy sauce; 1/4 C beef stock; 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour; 5 Tbsp water; 90 ml whole milk (lukewarm); 5 g granulated cane sugar; 3 g active dry yeast; 280 g all-purpose flour; 40 g beaten egg (save the remaining for egg wash); 15 ml avocado oil (or a light vegetable oil); 3 g sea salt; leftover beaten egg; 1 tsp black sesame seeds (optional); 1 Tbsp granulated sugar; 1 Tbsp hot water

Published: Mar 18, 2021 by Michelle · 40 Comments

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These Chinese Curry Beef Buns are packed with curried ground beef, cooked with a mixture of spices, onions and garlic. The curry beef is stuffed into a soft and tender yeasted dough, and is glazed with a sugar syrup for the ultimate balance in flavour.

One of my ultimate favourite savoury buns to eat is Chinese Curry Beef Buns.

They have to be meaty, curry beef buns, filled with lots of aromatics.

Confession time: While I was in University, I would make the trek to West Edmonton Mall and grab a Curry Beef Bun from T&T for lunch.

Not only was it cheap, but it was tasty, filling, and super convenient since I could do my grocery shopping right afterward.

What are Chinese Curry Beef Buns?

Chinese Curry Beef Buns are a baked bun filled with a savoury and slightly sweet curry beef filling.

You can find them in Chinese bakeries, along side BBQ pork char siu buns, pork floss buns, egg tarts, and roll cakes.

These Curry Beef Buns are full of curry spice and flavour -- I don't skimp on the curry powder in these buns!

What is curry?

Curry usually refers to a dish (from India) with a complex blend of spices usually including turmeric, cumin, coriander, fenugreek, curry leaves and chili.

The easiest way to get this flavourful blend of spices is to use a curry powder.

Curry powders are available in the ethnic aisle of large grocery stores and Asian supermarkets.

Is curry powder spicy?

Different curry powders will have different flavours, as each blend will contain various amounts of each spice.

That said, some curry powders can be spicy. Others can be mild.

You may need to sample different brands to find one that you like.

Is garam masala the same as curry powder?

No. Garam masala is another blend of spices that usually includes cloves, cinnamon, and cardamom.

Ingredients in the curry beef filling

The curry beef filling consists of:

ground beef: I prefer using lean ground beef, but you can use lean or regular ground beef for these buns. Alternatively, you can use ground bison as well.
white onion: finely diced, adds sweetness and sharpness to the beef curry
fresh garlic: finely minced; flavours the beef
curry powder: I love strong flavours in my food, so I use quite a bit of curry powder in these buns. Keep in mind various curry powders have different blends of spices and heat levels, so find one that you enjoy. [I use a Malaysian Madras curry powder].
beef stock: add a good splash to deglaze the pot (scrape off any brown bits stuck to the pot) and add a little moisture into the filling.
granulated sugar: adds a little sweetness to to balance the curry
sea salt: gives the beef a savoury flavour
soy sauce: seasons the ground beef; I use a light soy sauce

How to make the curry beef filling

The curry beef filling is best made ahead of time.

This gives the filling a chance to cool down, and then you can easily portion them into balls.

Heat a large pot over medium high heat.

Add in the ground beef and break it up with the back of a wooden spoon.

Sauté until the beef releases some oil, about 2-3 minutes (if you use regular, you may need to blot excess grease with a paper towel).

Lower the heat to medium, add the onion and garlic to the beef and continue to sauté until onions soften and aromatic, another 4-5 minutes.

Season the meat with salt and sugar.

Add in the curry powder and stir to coat the beef, cooking for 1-2 minutes.

Reduce the heat to medium low.

Pour in ¼ C beef stock and scrape off any brown bits stuck to the pot.

Add in the soy sauce. Stir to incorporate the mixture.

Give it a taste and adjust to your preference.

Remove the beef mixture from heat and transfer to a bowl to cool down.

Once cooled, use a large ice cream scoop to portion out the filling onto a plate.

Cover the plate with plastic wrap and place into the fridge to chill for at least 1-2 hours.

How to make the dough for the buns

First, make the tangzhong (this is a water-flour roux mixture that helps to keep the buns nice and soft):

In a small saucepot, add in flour and water.

Whisk over low-medium heat for about 5 minutes, until thickened, like a paste. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.

Make the dough:

Pour the warmed milk into a bowl, add in the sugar and yeast.

Give it a stir and let the yeast activate and bubble.

In a bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, add in the flour, about 75% of the egg (remember to save some for the eggwash later), oil and sea salt.

Start the mixer on low and pour in the activated yeast and milk. Add in the cooled tangzhong.

Knead until the dough starts to come together and forms a smooth and shiny ball, about 7-8 minutes of kneading.

Put the dough into a lightly greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Place in a warm location and let the dough double in size (approximately 60-90 mins, depending on how warm your kitchen is).

Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.

Once the dough has risen, deflate the dough and divide into equal portions, about 65g each.

How to make curry beef buns

Roll each portion of dough with a rolling pin into a circle about 5" in diameter, leaving the centre slightly raised and the edges thinner.

Using the ice cream scoop, transfer the portioned curry beef filling (about 55-60g) to the centre of the dough and gather the dough up around the filling, pinching the seams.

Shape the bun, gently flatten it a little and place onto the baking sheet and repeat with the remainder.

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Cover the buns loosely with plastic wrap and leave to rise until slightly puffy, about 20-30 minutes.

Brush the tops of each bun with the leftover beaten egg. Add a little black sesame seeds to the centre of the bun.

Bake at 375°F for 15-16 minutes, until golden in colour.

Make the sugar glaze:

In a small bowl, add in the sugar and hot water to make the glaze. Once the buns are done baking, remove from the oven and

brush with the sugar glaze. Turn the oven off and place the buns back into the oven for 2 minutes.

Remove the buns and let cool. Best served warm and fresh.

Tips & troubleshooting

To make filling the buns easier, make sure to chill the curry beef filling first.
Use a large ice cream scoop to form/shape the chilled filling into a mound, so it doesn't spill out. It will be trickier to do this using a tablespoon.
Roll the dough out to a diameter of about 5-6", that way you'll have enough space to gather the edges together.
To check when the dough is done proofing (rising), poke a small indentation on the side of the bun. If the dough:
- bounces back quickly, then it needs a little more time.
- fills back in slowly, it's ready for the oven.
- indentation stays, it might be overproofed. Time to get it into the oven pronto!
Don't overbake the buns. The residual heat will continue to cook the buns while the cool off.

How to store the curry beef buns

Store cooled buns in an airtight container and keep in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

These Curry Beef Buns also freeze beautifully. Just place them into a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months.

How to reheat the buns

Reheat the buns by microwaving them for about 30 seconds, until warm.

If reheating from frozen, microwave for about 1 minute, until piping hot.

Substitution for vegans

If you're vegan, you can simply substitute the ground beef with a meatless/plant-based alternative.

Other recipes you may like

Curried Turkey Buns

Steamed Red Bean Paste Buns

Mom's Pepperoni Buns

These Curry Beef Buns are soft, filling, and full of aromatic spices from the curry powder. They're savoury and slightly sweet, and jam packed with delicious curried beef. Skip the Chinese bakery and make them at home!

Let me know if you try out this recipe -- tag me on Instagram @siftandsimmer or leave me a comment/rating below!

Cut open curry beef bun on marble trivet with buns in background.

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5 from 24 votes