Shanghai Vegetable Buns

Shanghai Vegetable Buns, known as 'Cai Bao' (菜包), are fluffy steamed buns filled with a savory mixture of finely chopped greens, often bok choy or shepherd's purse, sometimes combined with mushrooms or tofu. A beloved breakfast staple from Shanghai, they represent the city's love for delicate, fresh-flavored dim sum.

🍳 View the full Shanghai Vegetable Buns recipe →

🍽️ Nutrition at a glance

These buns are primarily a source of carbohydrates from the wheat flour dough, with a moderate amount of plant-based protein and fiber from the vegetable filling. A typical serving of one to two buns contains roughly 150-250 calories, with the nutritional profile leaning towards carbs and being relatively low in fat.

Nutrition breakdown

Calories	300 kcal
Protein	8 g
Carbs	45 g
Fat	10 g
Fiber	3 g
Sugar	4 g
Sodium	480 mg
Iron	2.5 mg
Calcium	60 mg
Potassium	200 mg
Vitamin A	80 µg
Vitamin C	8 mg
Thiamin (B1)	0.2 mg
Niacin (B3)	1.5 mg
Magnesium	25 mg

Per 2 medium buns (150 g) · estimated, varies by recipe

💡 What's interesting

What makes them unique is the 'jiu cai' (酒菜) technique, where the vegetable filling is quickly blanched and shocked in cold water to retain its vibrant green color and crisp texture before being seasoned. This reflects the Shanghainese culinary emphasis on preserving the natural freshness and 'kou gan' (口gan) or mouthfeel of ingredients.