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Preparation
30 minutes
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Cooking
45 minutes
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Difficulty
Medium
Ingredients for Steamed Buns made from flour and baking powder For 8 buns
All-purpose flour 225 gr Baking powder 3 teaspoons (baking powder) Cornstarch 1 tablespoon Ground pork 300 gr Shortening 1 tablespoon (or cooking oil) Unsweetened fresh milk 140 ml Shiitake mushrooms 6 pieces Onion 1 bulb Shallot 1 bulb Garlic 1 bulb Chicken eggs 4 pieces Oyster sauce 1 tablespoon Vinegar a little Cooking oil a little Common seasoning a little (salt/ sugar/ pepper/ seasoning powder)
Tools for implementation
What is all-purpose flour?
- All-purpose flour, also known as flour number 11, is made from wheat with a protein content ranging from about 10 – 12%.
- All-purpose flour is a very important ingredient in baking recipes and can be used for many different types of cakes. Depending on the type of cake, the amount of flour used will vary, or you may add cornstarch if needed.
- You can easily find all-purpose flour at food stores, supermarkets, grocery stores, markets, baking supply shops, and reputable e-commerce websites in the market.
What is baking powder? How is baking powder different from yeast?
What is baking powder?
- Baking powder (also known as baking powder, leavening powder) is a leavening agent used in baking recipes. In terms of composition, baking powder consists of baking soda and a certain amount of acid to interact with the baking soda, along with a little starch. Since it already contains acid, baking powder can be used more flexibly than baking soda.
- Types of cakes such as muffins, biscuits and scones are types of cakes that use baking powder as a leavening agent. Bánh bò is also a type of cake that uses baking powder to create fluffiness.
How is baking powder different from yeast?
- Baking powder can be mixed directly with salt, while yeast, when mixed directly, will cause the microorganisms in the yeast to die or become inactive. As a result, the cake may not rise after cooking.
- Baking powder can be mixed directly with the cake flour, while yeast must be activated with warm water at 35 – 38 degrees Celsius (if using regular yeast).
- Baking powder releases gas very easily, while yeast does not. Therefore, when mixing cake batter with baking powder, you must steam or bake immediately after mixing, if you let it rest for only about 20 – 30 minutes. Otherwise, the cake may deflate or not rise.
- Typically, types of cakes such as bread and steamed buns are better with yeast than with baking powder, as yeast helps make the cake texture chewier and softer.
What is shortening? Where to buy it?
- Shortening is a type of fat ingredient, existing in solid form and produced from vegetable oils (such as soybean oil, cottonseed oil,…) blended with lard. Many people refer to shortening as sheep fat or mutton fat.
- Shortening helps make the pastry softer and fluffier for types of cakes like tart, pie, cookies,….
- Additionally, this ingredient also helps increase sweetness and extends the shelf life of the cake.
- You can buy shortening at specialty baking ingredient stores, at markets, or on e-commerce websites.
How to make Bao buns using flour and baking powder
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Mix the dry flour mixture
Add 255gr of all-purpose flour, 3 teaspoons (12gr) of baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt into a bowl and mix well.
Then, divide this flour mixture into 4 parts and sift each part finely into a new bowl.
Next, add 50gr of sugar and continue to mix well.
Divide the dough and wrap the filling
Divide the meat filling into 8 equal portions, then flatten them, place half a boiled egg in the center, and roll into a ball.
Next, briefly knead the dough, roll it into a long shape, and divide it into 8 equal parts.
Roll each piece of dough into a ball, flatten the outer edges thinner, place the filling in the center, and then fold the edges of the dough neatly.
While rotating the bun in your left palm, use your thumb to gently press the filling down. Then, with your right hand, sequentially pull and fold the edges of the dough over each other.
Finally, place the bun on a small piece of parchment paper.
Steaming the buns
Place a pot of water on the stove, add a little vinegar, and bring it to a boil over high heat.
Next, arrange the buns in a steamer lined with parchment paper, place the steamer over the boiling water, cover it with a towel, close the lid tightly, and steam for 25 minutes over medium heat.
- When steaming, do not open the steamer lid to avoid sudden temperature changes that may cause the buns to collapse and let water drip in, which will wrinkle the bun skin.
- After steaming, leave the buns in the steamer for about 3 – 5 minutes before taking them out; this will help the bun skin to be nicely taut and not deflate.
Final product
The buns made from flour and baking powder have a fragrant, soft, and chewy white skin with a naturally sweet and rich flavor that is very delicious. The hot, soft, and fragrant filling is juicy with minced meat and shiitake mushrooms combined with the creaminess of eggs; taking a bite will surely be delightful!
