Monday, May 10, 2010

Steam wholewheat red bean baos

One of the favorite things I enjoy eating for breakfast is baos. Whether it is savory or sweet, a steamy bao is always very inviting. ;) I have been wanting to try my hands on making steam baos with sweet filling for a long time ...since last year! :P So after seeing my dear friend Reese making her Sauage Bao in her last post, I decided to make some myself. :) Since I don't want to be too adventurous this time, I simply used store bought red bean filling instead of making them myself. The thought of "slaving" over a hot of red bean paste is just too tedious for me these days. :P I have actually made 2 different batches of baos, one plain and one wholewheat version...here are the wholewheat ones:
Making baos is fun! It's almost like making bread! ;) Needless to say, you can see I had fun moulding the baos too. When I was moulding them, my daughters were both eager and excited about the cute animal shapes. Since I was rushing (as usual), I only mould 4 different shapes. Fellow blogger like My Kitchen Snippets and Happy Home Baking too had their share of making these fun baos not too long ago. ;)
I am pretty happy with this wholewheat version of the bao skin I made....soft, fluffy & healthy~! Sweet! :)
The store bought red bean paste was a wee bit too sweet to my liking, so I kind of make my bao skin a little less sweeter.Wanna try out this recipe, here it is:

Ingredients for Wholewheat Steam Red Bean Paste baos: (makes about 12 medium)
200g Hong Kong /bao flour
65g wholewheat flour
6g instant active yeast
50g wheat starch
40g caster sugar
8g double action baking powder
150ml water (
add just enough to make a nice soft dough)
20g shortening
20ml olive oil

Method:
  • In a large mixing bowl, sift in HK / bao flour together with whole wheat flour, baking powder and wheat starch. Add in sugar and yeast and whisk well to combine everything.
  • Next add in water, do not need to add up to 150ml if the dough is already soft and moist. Knead till it comes together and forms a soft dough and not sticky, about 5 mins.
  • Lastly add shortening and olive oil and knead dough till it is smooth and elastic.
  • Place dough into a lightly greased bowl, cover and let proof for 1 hr.
  • In the meantime, roll about 12 portion of the red bean filling, each weighing about 20g each. Place on plate and for use later.
  • After proofing, punch the air and divide the dough into 12 to 14 portions. Roll round and press the dough flat with your palm, making sure the edges are thinner then the center.
  • Place a ball of the filling in the center and seal the edges nicely and place the bao on a cut out small parchment paper.Repeat till all the dough and filling are used up.
  • Let the baos rest covered and proof for 25 minutes before steaming.
  • Prepare a steamer with boiling water. Steam the baos and steam at high fire for 12 to 15 minutes till the baos are done.
I'm not sure is it my moulding skill or the softness of the dough, but I think my piggy have droopy ears & noses! Furthermore, the wholewheat flour made my piggies look like they are having freckles...lol! Nevertheless, wholewheat is always a healthier version as compared to plain ones. Take a look at the first batch of plain baos I made earlier:
I will not be posting the plain skin baos recipe as I find it a bit tough the following day. But on the first day, the baos were great when they first come out from the steamer, yummy!;) Notice the one with the spiral pattern? My daughter calls it "wormy", lol!
I also made a few piggies with this dough. Wonder why one piggy is not pink? I only realized I forgot to tint the dough pink after I mould the first piggy...:P
I had loads of fun making this baos this time. Guess the next time I will try with black sesame paste or lotus paste...yum! If you are interested, try it out! Have fun too!

26 comments:

  1. these pao are so cute, must try the wholewheat version soon.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks Sonia! Do try and let me know how you like it ok? Have fun!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh my its soooo CUTE!!! I like the piggy ones..hee hee! I'll like to try the piggy baos the next round too..Oh its just too cute to ezt la..;)

    ReplyDelete
  4. These baos look cute. Have not make baos for a long time, must go and dig my recipe... ;DD

    ReplyDelete
  5. Your bao so adorable, just like the one at dimsum restaurant.

    ReplyDelete
  6. With that amount of wheat starch in it, I'm sure it's really soft.
    I might try this version too, one day, but my husband hates whole wheat stuff.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Cute!! I liked the piggy's comment about not going under the sun, I can totally relate, haha! :)
    Had me laughing out loud!

    ReplyDelete
  8. they look adorable. I love the shapes and your blog too.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Bee Bee!

    WOW! The baos look fantastic. Its definitely something you cant buy outside =p

    And guess what? I've been having bao cravings recently! You just made me so so so so tempted to make my own BAO!!!!!

    I haven't been quite successful with making my own red bean or lotus paste, so if you do, please tell me how! =p

    Thanks for the healthier alternative! YUM YUM!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thanks so much Reese! You are the "sifu" in making baos...so I am sure you can make any kind you like. Looking forward to see your cute baos!

    Hi Anncoo,
    Great! I know you will make some real yummy ones...see your post soon!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thanks so much DG! Nah...not up to that standard yet. If the restaurant hire me to make baos...their staff makes 3, I can mould out only one, hahaha...not so productive!

    Hi Wendy,
    Actually you can don't add the wheat flour if your husband doesn't like it. Just replace with 1/2 the amt of HK/ pao flour of the wheat flour. Have fun!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi Ee Peng,
    Glad that the piggy's comment gave you a good laugh. ;) I love to add silly comments to those figurines I mould out...it's like reading a comic strip, heehee. :D

    Thanks Esther and welcome to my blog! Hope you can drop by whenever you are free...have a great day!

    Hi Youfei,
    You know I tried making red bean paste myself before, I too wasn't very successful. :P I guess the types of red bean used matters alot...will definitely let you know when I find out a good recipe. Hope you get to make some baos soon and remember to have fun making it!

    ReplyDelete
  13. These baos are so cute! You make me want to make baos now!
    I use store bought red bean fillings too, I just don't think I should invest my time cooking the red bean paste from scratch, knowing that I would probably burnt it! The one I bought from PH was acceptable to me, it is sweet on its own but eaten with the buns they taste ok to me :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. so cute, esp the pink piglets :D

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thanks HHB! But I feel that your piggies looked more cute! Mine were all droopy...like it was gonna melt or something, hahaha! Yeah...I am now not so hardworking to make red bean paste myself. :P Thanks for the inspiration!

    Thanks for your kind words tigerfish. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  16. So cute and adorable! I'm sure it taste good too! With such cute shapes, it makes eating more enjoyable! :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hi Jane,
    Thanks! You know my daughter doesn't like red bean paste. But after seeing the piggies, she just ate one! Indeed the presentation of the food is also very important as well.

    ReplyDelete
  18. ha ha aren's these baos CUTE!!! I never try making bao with whole wheat. I have to try it the next time.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thanks Gert! Yeah, having fun while cooking is also part of the joy! Do try out wholewheat bao skin...you won't feel guilty eating 2 at a go, just like your healthy banana bread! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  20. So cute, Love the piggy :D ai ya... Should view ur blog 1st, b4 i make! :P my daughter requested for flower shape & piggy.. i told her i dunno how to make piggy paos. haha... nvm, vil try it next round :D TQ for the idea @->--

    ReplyDelete
  21. Thanks Janice! Looking forward to your piggy baos post. I'm sure your kids will love it. Have fun!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Your pig paus are super cute!!!!!!! Would like to try make them this weekend...hahahaha did you use red bean for the eyes and the nose?

    ReplyDelete
  23. Hi peyyng, welcome to my blog! Oh yes, I used red bean paste for the eyes and nostrils. ;) do let me know how your turned out....hope u like them. have fun!

    ReplyDelete
  24. thank you for your prompt reply! will let you know!!!!! take care and keep up your wonderful work =P

    ReplyDelete

Welcome friends! Care to drop me a little note, I would much appreciate that. ;)