Steamed Pork Patty Kids Love
孩子爱吃的蒸肉饼 · pan chinese cuisine
This is a classic everyday family dish from a home cook: a soft, silky steamed meat patty that is mild, easy to swallow, and not 'heaty' in the traditional Chinese sense. The mix-in can be rotated between Chinese yam, corn, water chestnuts, shiitake mushrooms, or lotus root. The author notes the spoon used for seasonings is an ordinary ceramic spoon (about a tablespoon), and the measurements below follow standard conversions from that basis.
Fiona AldridgeUK mum of three, sourdough starter named Barry is four years old. I bake through my nan's recipe box and post the wins and the collapsed sponges.Nutrition & allergens
Contains:PeanutsSoyWheat
Per serving (4 servings)
- Energy (kcal)
- 53.8(Main ingredients only; seasoning not counted)
- Protein (g)
- 1.1(Main ingredients only; seasoning not counted)
- Fat (g)
- 3.5(Main ingredients only; seasoning not counted)
- Carbs (g)
- 4.6(Main ingredients only; seasoning not counted)
- Sodium (mg)
- 731.8(Main ingredients only; seasoning not counted)
Estimated from verified ingredient data for the original formula — not lab values, and one dish is not a full meal.
1.2 oz
0.21 oz
0.74 oz
peanut oil花生油
0.49 oz
scallion葱花
1.0 stalk — white parts finely chopped; greens reserved for garnish
Techniques you'll use
- Marinating ↗
Season protein ahead with soy, wine, and starch for flavor and texture.
- Steaming ↗
Cook with moist vapor for tender, clean-tasting results.
Steps
- 1
Step 1
The author uses pork collar (pork shoulder butt) for this patty.
✅ Done when: You have a suitable cut such as pork collar or shoulder ready before starting.
- 2
Step 2
Chop pork with about 30% fat and 70% lean into ground meat. If using a meat grinder, a few seconds is enough — do not grind it too fine; a coarser texture gives a better bite.
✅ Done when: The meat is coarsely ground with fat and lean evenly distributed, not a fine paste.
- 3
Step 3
Cut a small section of Chinese yam into fine dice. Wear disposable gloves from the moment you start peeling — raw yam can make the back of your hands very itchy. This mix-in can be swapped for corn, water chestnuts, shiitake mushrooms, or lotus root to taste; the author's child especially likes corn-and-yam and water-chestnut-and-shiitake versions.
✅ Done when: The yam is peeled and cut into small, even dice.
- 4
Step 4
Note: the spoon used for the seasonings is an ordinary ceramic spoon (roughly a tablespoon).
✅ Done when: You have a standard ceramic spoon set aside for measuring the seasonings.
Combine the ground pork and diced yam in a bowl. Add 2 spoons of starch (the author likes sweet potato starch), 2 spoons of light soy sauce, 1 spoon of oyster sauce, 1 spoon of peanut oil, and half a spoon of sugar. Finely chop the white parts of the scallion, add them in, and mix everything evenly. Spread the mixture in a shallow dish, flatten it out, and pour in a little water — the author likes extra sauce.
✅ Done when: The mixture is evenly combined, spread flat in the dish, with a little water added.
- 6
Step 6
For the corn version, half an ear of sweet corn is enough; a corn stripper tool removes the kernels in seconds.
✅ Done when: The kernels are cut cleanly off the cob with no cob shavings mixed in.
- 7
Step 7
Gather all the seasonings together before mixing.
✅ Done when: Starch, soy sauce, oyster sauce, peanut oil, and sugar are all laid out and ready.
Once the water is boiling, place the dish in a steamer and steam for 15 minutes.
✅ Done when: After 15 minutes of steaming over boiling water, the patty is cooked through.
- 9
Step 9
After steaming, scatter the chopped scallion greens on top and serve. The patty is silky and tender; spoon the sauce over rice.
✅ Done when: The patty looks glossy and tender with scallion greens scattered on top, ready to eat.
- 10
Step 10
The author steams this every few days as a go-to everyday dish for kids.
✅ Done when: This becomes part of your regular rotation of family dishes.
- 11
Step 11
This is what the corn version of the patty looks like.
✅ Done when: The corn-studded patty is steamed and holding together.
- 12
Step 12
The corn version tastes light and naturally sweet.
✅ Done when: Each bite of the finished corn patty has a mild, sweet flavor.