Mantou (Chinese Steamed Buns)

I've always been wanting to make Chinese steamed bun from scratch since long long time ago, but never push or challenge myself to do it, until today!! this is my first attempt and I succeeded!! I was so happy I did a happy dance right after :P

My family love love love Chinese steam buns stuffed with chicken. I always bought the frozen one from Asian market, and it cost about $4 for like 10 small pieces. It's very convenience but now I know how to make the fresh one from scratch I don't think I'd ever buy the frozen one anymore!

I always thought its so complicated to make Mantou, but today I found out its quite simple and very easy! WOW did I just said easy??

Okay enough talking, let me share the recipe including some pictures and let you decide how easy it is.

MANTOU - Chinese Steamed Buns

(Makes 8 big sizes of mantou)

Recipe is adopted from : http://almostbourdain.blogspot.com/

INGREDIENTS :

7 gr dried yeast (1 sachet)

260 ml lukewarm water 

25 gr sugar

500 gr flour (I am using unbleached all purpose flour)

1 tbsp oil (original recipe 1 tsp)

METHOD :

Dissolve the dried yeast in the water, then put together with all the rest of ingredients in a mixing bowl.

Using dough hook turn the mixer in a low speed and mix it for about 10 minutes.

Take the dough out and let it rest in a slightly floured surface of cutting board

Flatten the dough with rolling pin and make a rectangular shape, then make a three-fold like pictured below :

Flatten the dough again to approximately 45 cm by 25 rectangular shape, then using a pastry brush slightly brush the surface with water.

Then roll out the dough tightly by the length side to form a log like this :

Cut the dough into 8 pieces 

Prepare 8 square pieces of parchment paper, a bit larger than the bun 

Lay each bun on top of square parchment paper

Prepare the steamer pot and lay the buns inside the steamer, but do not turn the stove on. Cover the pot and let them rest and rise for about 20 minutes.

After 20 minutes :

(It really enlarging, I ended up steam it in 2 batches)

Steam the buns until cooked for about 20 minutes :

Ready to serve.

You can deep fry the buns and serve it with some condense milk but my family love to have it with some chicken stuffed inside, like I have posted some time ago HERE

The cool thing about this is that you can freeze up the leftovers and just simply steam it whenever you want to. Mater of fact I am making more batches tomorrow and will freeze it so I wont buy frozen mantou anymore!!