Baked Pork Asado Buns

Ingredients

• 1 lb pork (cut into small dice (or 1 lb ground pork)* see Notes)
• 1 small onion (finely chopped)
• 3 garlic cloves (finely chopped)
• 1 tablespoon oil
• ½ salt
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 star anise
• ¼ cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 cup water
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water
• ½ cup warm water*** see Notes
• 1 ½ tablespoons active dry yeast
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 cup warm milk
• 2 eggs (beaten (room temperature))
• ¼ cup oil (canola)
• ⅔ cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 5 ½ - 6 ½ cups all purpose flour
• 1 egg yolk mixed with 1 teaspoon water (egg wash)
• 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds (optional)