Submitted by Yippee on June 24, 2009 - 8:21am

090621 Hong Kong Style Sourdough Egg Puffs - 港式天然酵母雞蛋仔


I'm very happy to have worked out this recipe, not only because I am adding a new variety to the many existing recipes using sourdough starter discard, but it has also brought back a lot of fond memories from my childhood.

Egg puffs were one of my favorite after-school snacks that I picked up from a street hawker outside my elementary school.  Those freshly made egg puffs had soothed and warmed my rumbling stomach at winter dusk-I was in the PM section of my elementary school.

To make egg puffs, a thin batter of eggs, sugar, and evaporated milk is prepared. A two-piece egg puff iron is needed to produce these hollow, crispy egg-shaped waffles, giving them the Cantonese name that literally means 'little eggs'.  Street hawkers heat their irons on charcoal stoves, which are much more powerful than my electric stove at home. 

Street hawkers also use the same batter to make 'grid biscuits', which are very similar to waffles.  They are round in shape and have four quadrants.  These biscuits are usually served with a spread of butter and peanut butter and sprinkled with sugar on top. Therefore, if you dont' have an egg puff iron at home, you may try this recipe with a regular waffle maker.

Even though I'm thousands of miles away from my hometown across the Pacific, distance, thanks to these 'little eggs', only makes the heart grow fonder.

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/33569048@N05/sets/72157620248658035/

 

100% hydration starter = 1 cup          
Evaporated milk = 2 oz          
Eggs = 2            
Tapioca starch = 1 oz          
Castor sugar = 4 oz          
Baking soda =  1/4 tsp          
Baking powder =  1/2 tsp          
Optional                
Custard powder = 2    TBSP          
Vanila extract = 1    tsp          
                 
1 Whisk all ingredients until well mixed        
2 Heat up both pieces of egg puff iron and lightly spray with oil      
3 Pour batter to the base piece to about 90% full      
  Close with another piece, then turn upside down       
4 Take turns to heat both sides until the egg puffs are done  (It took Yippee 20 minutes on her electric stove)
5 Cool egg puffs on wire rack for 10 minutes before serving      
                 

 A non-starter version recipe:

All purpose or cake flour = 4 oz
Tapioca starch = 1 oz
Castor sugar = 4 oz
Baking powder = 1 tsp
Water = 4 oz
Evaporated milk = 2 oz
Eggs = 2  
Optional      
Custard powder = 2    TBSP
Vanila extract = 1    tsp

This will be submitted to Wild Yeast Yeastspotting!

I loved the Egg puffs too and

I loved the Egg puffs too and I brought the egg iron pan  a few years ago in HK,  but have not able to find a recipe to make the puffs. Can you post your recipe? 

 

siuflower

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The recipe is up.

Enjoy!

 

Yippee

Looks yummy

Oh they look so good.  I would like to try but I don't have an egg puff iron (where did you find it any way?).  Think I can use the recipe to make waffles instead? 

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Regular Waffle Make Would Work

althetrainer:

Definitely, even though I have no idea what the timing is.  Like I mentioned in the post, the street hawkers use the same batter to make the waffle-like grid biscuits, too.

Try Chinatown where cookware or kitchen supplies are sold, and show them you're looking for this:

雞蛋仔模

Yippee

Thanks!

The next time I go to Chinatown I will look for them.  Making waffles is good but the little egg puffs will make perfect after school snacks.  My neighbor's kids often come over after school and they always expect some baked goods from me.  I am sure they will love these.

Hong Kong Style Sourdough Egg Puffs

Hi Yippee

I am in South Africa here don't have good chinese shop, sorry to ask  u do u may have a recipe of 100% hyration starter for the puffs? I really like to try it they look so yummy!! can u help me please!!!

Wan ping

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Starter is not required

Wan Ping:

You don't need to use a starter if you don't have one.  A starter is what we cultivate to make sourdough breads.  I'll update my recipe to include a non-starter version.   

Do you have an egg puff iron?  If not, a regular waffle maker should work.  You just need to play with it to figure out the timing.

Yippee

egg puff iron

Hi Yippee

Thank you for your kindness,I don't have a egg puff iron but I will try on regular waffle maker.

wan ping

Oh, I love those 雞蛋仔! They

Oh, I love those 雞蛋仔! They look perfect and bring back wonderful memories indeed. Thanks :)

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You're welcome

Yippee

A non-starter version recipe

Hi Yippee

Thank your recipe, I will let you know how they come out, thank you!!

wan ping

Thank you for the recipe,  I

Thank you for the recipe,  I can use my pan to make some of the egg puffs.

 

siuflower

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You're welcome

Resist the temptation to peek through the irons while the puffs are forming or you'll end up with crushed / deflated puffs.

Just think of this as making sunny side up the Chinese way, 燒紅油鍋煎荷包蛋, heat up the irons really well with a spray of oil on it before pouring the batter.  If you have gas stove, the color will come out even better. Good luck!

Yippee 

I've just noticed

the iron is used on a stove top, not in an oven.  Tis will be a problem for me because we have a glass top oven.  You think I can put the iron in the oven to bake it instead? 

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No

althetrainer:

The handles are made of wood. 

Yippee

On to plan B

Darn!  In that case I will have to move on to plan B: using a waffle maker instead.  Thanks Yippee.

Drat, I don't have a waffle

Drat, I don't have a waffle iron either! I love the way these look and sound though.

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