Saturday, January 5, 2013

HOME-MADE BREAD: Plain steam buns made with wheat flour is as popular in Northern China as rice is in the south, to be served as staple with a variety of dishes. This recipe has been a cherished one in my family.



CHINESE BREAD ROLLS—FLOWER BUNS花卷:

 

 

 

 
5 ¼ cups all purpose flour                              

1 tbsp. active dry yeast

1 tsp. sugar                                                     

2 tsp. salt

2 cups warm water                                          

2 tbsp. oil

2 tsp. baking soda                                           

1 tbsp. water

 

 

 

Proof yeast with 1 cup warm water and sugar for 10 minutes. Stir down and let stand 5 minutes more.

 

Put 4 cups flour and salt in the mixing bowl of Standing Mixer with dough hook attacked. Turn machine to Speed 2. Add yeast water and 1 cup warm water, ½ cup or more of flour and knead until dough clings to hook and cleans sides of bowl. Knead dough for 2 more minutes.

 

Transfer dough to oiled bowl, turning to coat with oil. Cover and let rise in warm place for 1 ½ hours or until doubled in bulk.

 

Punch dough down and turn out onto floured surface. Mix water and baking soda; then add to dough, kneading to mix it in and knead for a few minutes. Cut dough into 2 pieces. Cover and let rest 20 minutes. 

 

Roll each piece of dough out to ½-inch thickness. Sprinkle dough with oil and salt. Roll dough up, jelly-roll fashion into a long roll. Cut into 2-inch pieces (9 pieces from each roll of dough). With a chopstick, press down firmly along centre of each roll.

 

Cut pieces of waxed paper into 2-inch squares--18 squares in all; and sit one roll on each square. Arrange rolls in several bamboo steamers, leaving room to spread in between rolls. Cover and let rise for 30 minutes. 

 

Fill a pot, large enough to allow a bamboo steamer to fit over the rim, with 10 cups or more cold water. Bring water to a boil. Stack bamboo steamers, one on top of the other, over the pot of boiling water. Cover top bamboo steamer with a lid. Steam buns for 20 minutes or until puffed. Serve hot with food.

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