15 Types of Asian Bread Recipes

Although bread is commonly associated with a Western diet, it has actually been part of the Chinese diet for over 1500 years, dating back to the Han Dynasty. India too has its own traditional breads, mainly flatbreads and crepes.

As Asia is a huge region, it's not possible to list every single type of Asian bread, but here are some of the most popular ones that you should make sure you try. They're super easy to make at home too, so there's no reason to wait!

The breads are delicious alone or served with chicken noodle soup. Pair with sambal mayo sauce or garlicky cream cheese dipping sauce.

Mochi Waffles

Surprised to hear that waffles are considered (quick) breads? So are pancakes!

Cheese Mochi Waffles Recipe

This delicious Cheese Mochi Waffles Recipe- also known as Moffles!- is crisp on the outside and soft and oozy on the inside! Thanks to the glutinous rice flour, these waffles stay crispy and don't become soggy as easily. On the table in 15-20 minutes, they're perfect for breakfast or brunch! (This recipe works with both a traditional and vertical waffle maker. It is NOT just putting a mochi in a waffle machine!) (Gluten-Free)

Click here for the cheese moffle recipe.

Chinese Bao Buns

Bao is a yeast leavened Chinese bun that is eaten both filled and unfilled. Unfilled bao buns are 100% soft, fluffy bread, whilst the filled versions can have anything from char siu (savoury filling) to lotus paste (sweet filling) inside.

1 characteristic of bao is their pure white colour, which is thanks to the special Hong Kong flour used. Hong Kong flour is a super soft, highly bleached flour that has a slightly higher protein content compared to cake flour (8-10%.)

Note: If you don't have Hong Kong flour, regular flour works too, but you won't get such snow-white rolls.

Pandan Mantou

To get different color spirals, you can use other natural flavoring such as sweet potato powder, ube powder, cocoa powder, or turmeric powder.

Spiral Pandan Mantou (Steamed Chinese Buns)

A guide to creating pretty spiral patterns in your mantou buns as well as a list of what natural food colourings you can use.

Click here for the spiral mantou recipe

Matcha Bao

If you're feeling broke skip the matcha powder and use cheaper green tea powder instead. The color won't be as vibrant but it'll do in a pinch!

Easy Matcha Buns (1-rise Mantou)

Traditionally, mantou required 2 dough rises, but who has the time these days? Well I still like to do it the old-fashioned way every now and then, but most people I know don't, so here's an extra quick mantou recipe which only needs 1 dough rise but tastes as good as the original. Matcha flavour optional.

Click here for the easy mantou recipe

Japanese Bread

When people are asked about the difference between Asian bread and Western bread, 1 of the first things that comes to mind is that Asian bread tends to be moister, softer and fluffier. They're almost like edible pillows or clouds.

Japan, in particular, is known to have delicious types of bread, such as this milk bread.

Japanese milk bread

Japanese milk bread is widely known to have the softest, fluffiest crumb possible. Also known as Hokkaido milk bread, Korean milk bread, Chinese milk bread, or shokupan, Japanese milk bread is usually made using tangzhong but this recipe shares a different method.

Click here for the secret technique!

Good enough to eat on its own, or with this spicy tuna dip/ sambal mayonnaise.

Note: If you'd like to learn the alternative method to make soft Asian bread - i.e. tangzhong- click the link for a recipe from the renown Michelin Guide!

Naan

Naan is a chewy bread that is usually made in a tandoor, or clay oven.

As most of us don't have 1 at home, these recipes, which range the gamut from sweet to savoury, have simplified the process for home cooking whilst not compromising on the result!

Keema Naan

If you prefer something more savoury, try the Keema flatbread instead!

One great thing about Naan bread is that you can easily switch out the filling- if you're cutting down on meat, you can always stuff it with garlic butter, cheese or even Gochujang butter or mayo butter instead!

Keema Naan Bread

This crispy oven-baked naan is stuffed with delicious meat filling and melts in the mouth.

Click here to learn to make your own naan

Besides Naan, another popular Indian flatbread is paratha, which come both plain or with stuffing.

Note: Click here for the best Indian side dishes to serve with paratha (or naan.)