Six Ingredients Chinese Steamed Buns

Author: Anita Jacobson

Courses: 

Cuisines: 

Diets: 

Prep Time: 40 mins

Cook Time: 20 mins

Total Time: 1 hour

Serves: 16-20

Ingredients

  • 250 ml (1 cup) warm milk, about 38 Celsius/100 Fahrenheit (*)
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 packet (2 1/4 teaspoon, or 7 gram) active dry yeast
  • 3 cups (375 gram) all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3 tablespoon sugar

Instructions

  1. Place warm milk and oil in a bowl and sprinkle with yeast. Set aside for about 10 minutes, or until foamy.
  2. In another mixing bowl, sift together all-purpose flour, salt, and sugar. Make a well, and slowly pour the yeast solution while stirring with a pair of chopsticks or a spatula. Then, knead for about 30 seconds or just until the dough comes together.
  3. Flour your work surface, then turn the dough out onto it and knead the dough until smooth. About 10 minutes.
  4. Grease a mixing bowl with oil, then place the smooth dough into the bowl. Cover with a wet kitchen towel and wait for the dough to proof until almost double the amount. This can take about 1-2 hours depending on how warm your kitchen is.
  5. Turn the proofed dough onto a floured surface and knead for 2 minutes. Divide the dough into 3 equal portions and roll each into a log with 1" diameter, then cut into 1" sections. Place each piece of dough onto a piece of parchment paper.
  6. Prepare a steamer on medium-high heat. Once the water boils, arrange the dough on the steamer basket (don't cram!), place the basket inside the steamer, and steam with the lid on for 12 minutes. Turn the heat off, but let the buns sit inside the hot steamer for another 3 minutes before opening the lid. Take the lid off and remove the steamed buns. You may need to repeat this step multiple times if you have a small steamer.
  7. The steamed buns can be stored in a large ziplock bag and freeze. To reheat, I usually just place the amount I want on a plate, cover the buns with a wet paper towel, and microwave for 2 minutes. They will be as fluffy as the instant they step out from the steamer.

Notes

  • (*) Substitute with water.

Another great recipe by https://vforveggy.com.