Steamed Bao Buns

Bao buns are a Chinese bread roll which can be filled with sweet or savoury fillings. They're so fluffy and pillowy soft, they taste like clouds in your mouth. Bao buns are made with yeast and do require some time to let them prove, but it's well worth the time required. They are also great to make in a batch and freeze to give you a headstart the next time you fancy some bao buns.

Ingredients:

• 230ml warm water

• 7g yeast

• 450g strong white flour

• 50g caster sugar

• Desired bao bun filling

Method:

• Fill a jug with the warm water and stir in the yeast

• In a large bowl, mix together the strong white flour and caster sugar, add the liquid and mix to begin forming a dough

• Tip out onto a surface and knead for 10 minutes, until elastic. If the dough begins to stick to the surface, dust it with a little flour

• Put the dough back into the mixing bowl, cover with a damp tea towel and leave to prove for 1 hour until the dough has doubled in size

• Cut out 10 small squares, roughly 15x15 of baking paper and leave to one side

• Once the proving time is up, knock the dough back with a couple of punches and weigh. (It should weigh approx. 690g.)

• Divide the mixture into 10 even balls and on a large sheet of baking paper, roll each ball of dough into an oval shape (12cm x 9cm)

• Place one sheet of the cut squared baking paper on the top side of a bun and fold over in half, lengthways

• On a large baking tray lined with baking paper, lay the folded bao buns on a tray covered with cling film. Leave to prove for another 30 minutes

• Once puffy and risen, set up a steamer on medium heat, lay the base of the steamer with baking paper, place 2-3 bao buns in the steamer, and steam for 6-8 minutes

Tip: When your bao buns are proving for their second time, this is the perfect time to start cooking your filling. You may want to try some of these:

• Pork belly with pickled veggies topped with sweet bbq sauce

• Hoisin duck with pickled cucumber and spring onion topped with more hoisin sauce

• Teriyaki chicken with pickled veggies

• Fried tofu bao buns

Fill your bao bun & enjoy x

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Steps to making your bao bun in pictures