April 23, 2013 - 1:04pm
Now for something completely different... well, sorta
Going back to my roots and made Chinese steamed buns (mantou).
APF 250g, water 80g, milk 50g, sugar 15g, oil 5g, yeast 3g
Knead together by hand, first rise is optional. The dough should feel fairly dry. Roll dough out to a rectangular sheet, then roll up tightly into a cylinder. Cut into 8 pieces and proof for about 45 minutes. Steam with medium heat for about 15 min.
My daughter said, "Daddy, next time can you make them with taste?" Little did she know that these are magical buns. The more you chew, the sweeter it gets. It's an enzyme thing.
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Very nice, and a super simple recipe.
-Floyd
You can also shape them round and stuff with BBQ pork, taro paste, red bean paste... I have a particular weakness for red bean paste. It comes in a can, but I just came across a recipe to make it from scratch. Gonna try that tonight.
For sure, me too. Good luck with them!
Looks easy and quick. Is the picture above the finished steamed bun? So are these to be eaten warm from the steamer or let to cool? Do they keep if not eaten right away?
Could you share the red bean paste recipe?
Could I possibly ask any more questions? (#$%@ , did it again)
Yes, those were the finished buns. They are meant to be enjoyed warm. If not eaten right away, you can put them in ziploc bags and refrigerate them. 20 seconds in the microwave to reheat.
Red Bean Paste
red beans 600g
Soak red beans in 1200g water for 24 hours (at least overnight), then cook over medium heat until soft. Drain the water, and add 450g sugar (white, brown or combo, or rock sugar) while the beans are hot. Mix gently until the beans are sweetened. Some prefer the beans whole, others mash them.
That's the theory. I've not tried it myself...
Make sure they get a good rise before steaming, or they'll come out gummy and dense. Also, if the heat/steam is too high, they'll over-expand, and deflate once you open the lid of the steamer, forming craters on the surface for some otherworldly appearance.
Thanks for the tips. I'll give it a go in a day or two. Energy permitting.
I like these buns, and my husband LOVES these buns LOL
My husband says the same thing... the more you chew, the sweeter it gets.
Thank you for the recipe and the lovely picture! I will try and bake these this weekend :D
Cheers,
Adia
You're welcome! You could always increase the sugar to make them sweeter, or use brown sugar to add some color. Be sure to roll the dough out pretty flat, and roll it up tightly. This is one bread where you don't want irregular holes :)
Right, I probably wouldn't want irregular holes!
Thank you for your tips!
(And btw, Koreans eat those buns with spicy sweet potato clear noodles... Don't ask me why, but the buns go really well with the noodle dish. Okay, I am salivating now just thinking about them buns and the noodles...!!)
Cheers!
Adia
I've been trying my hand at yin-zhi juan recently, aka silver-thread rolls and came across a similar recipe. However, I was wondering if you might be able to share your thoughts about a few things?
What about salt in the recipe? Any place for it? I added some in my last "steam," and can tell that it's there, but not sure if it's actually missed or needed in this recipe.
Second, I usually bake at about 75% hydration, and have been making steamed buns at over 80% hydration. However, while it seems like fluffier buns are desireable, higher hydration does not necessarily equate to fluffiness when steamed. Any thoughts about this?
The recipes I've seen do not require salt. You can add some sugar to sweeten the dough. Higher hydration would make to dough too difficult to work with, I think. Mine are around 50% hydration. 60% tops. Only one rise.
I love these things too! And thanks for the Bean Paste, so cool to be able to make it at home!!! :)
Your's looked...perfect!!!