Filipino Meat Bun
Ingredients
Dough:
1 cup milk
2 large eggs
½ cup vegetable oil
¼ cup water
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon active dry yeast
1 pinch salt
Filling:
1 pound ground pork
¼ cup soy sauce
3 tablespoons white sugar
2 tablespoons oyster sauce
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1 medium onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 star anise
1 cup water
Instructions
Make dough: Heat milk in a microwave-safe container in the microwave until lukewarm but not scalding, 15 to 30 seconds. Pour lukewarm milk into a large bowl. Add eggs, oil, and water; mix well.
Mix together flour, yeast, and salt in a medium bowl. Stir into milk mixture until fully incorporated. Cover the bowl and let rest for 15 minutes.
Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead until smooth and elastic, adding flour as needed if too sticky, about 5 minutes. Shape dough into a smooth ball by tucking folded ends under. Place into a clean bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm area until doubled in size, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
Meanwhile, prepare filling: Place pork in a bowl with soy sauce, sugar, oyster sauce, cornstarch, and pepper. Mix well to combine.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir onion, garlic, and star anise in hot oil for 2 minutes. Add ground pork mixture; cook and stir until browned and crumbly, 4 to 5 minutes. Pour in water; reduce heat and let simmer, scraping the bottom of the pan occasionally until mixture is glazed but not soupy, about 10 minutes. Transfer filling to a bowl and refrigerate until dough is ready.