Siopao differs from the baozi in that it is much larger and is eaten held in the hands like a sandwich. It also uses different traditional fillings. The most common fillings are porkasado (indigenized braised version of the Cantonesechar siu) and bola-bola (literally "meatball", a combination of pork, chicken, beef, shrimp or salted duck egg). Siopao uses leavenedwheat flour and is traditionally steamed, but a baked version (also called "toasted siopao") can be baked directly in ovens without steaming. A popular variant called "fried siopao" fries the bottom of the siopao in a greased skillet after steaming. Another dish that evolved from the siopao is the asado roll, which uses regular bread dough and is baked.[2][3][4][5]
Traditional siopao is also typically accompanied with a sweet "siopao sauce" (made from cornstarch, soy sauce, sugar, garlic, and other ingredients), which is injected or spread unto the filling before eating. Plain ketchup (either tomato ketchup or banana ketchup) is also used in the same way. In contrast to the baozi which is eaten dipped in a soy sauce or vinegar mixture.[6][7]
A unique variant from Siargao Island is the paowaw, a dessert bun which has a filling of bukayo (sweetened shredded coconut meat).[8]
In other countries
Siopao was also introduced to Guam (then a part of the Philippines), with the same name. From there it has spread further into the Marshall Islands, where it is known as siu pao.[2]
There is a similar dish in Thai cuisine called salapao (Thai: ซาลาเปา), which is sometimes made with a sweet filling for a dessert.[9] Similar buns have also been introduced in Hawaii where it is called manapua, and in Samoa and the American Samoa, where it is called keke pua'a.[2]
In popular culture
There is an urban legend about the snack alleging that cat meat is used in the production of siopao. According to historians, this story could have came from a certain sentiment towards the Chinese Filipino community or it was theorized that it could have been a smear campaign by competitors or illegitimate children from a Chinese family which runs a siopao business.[10]
In September 2024, during IShowSpeed's visit to the Philippines, the online streamerlivestreamed himself dining at a restaurant in Binondo, where he was misled by a local into believing that the siopao he was eating contained cat meat. This caused IShowSpeed to panic, only to be reassured afterwards that it was only a joke.[11]
.jpg)
