Authentic Chinese Steamed Buns Recipe

Ingredients

• 1.75 cups all-purpose flour, divided
• 0.75 cup warm water, divided
• 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
• 1 teaspoon white sugar
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 0.25 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon baking powder

Instructions

1. Gather all of your ingredients.
2. In a large bowl, combine 1/4 cup of flour, 1/4 cup of warm water, the yeast, and 1 teaspoon of sugar. Let the mixture rest for 30 minutes.
3. Incorporate the remaining 1 ½ cups of flour, the remaining 1/2 cup of warm water, 2 tablespoons of sugar, vegetable oil, and salt. Knead the dough until it achieves a smooth and elastic consistency.
4. Transfer the dough to a greased bowl, rotate it to coat with oil, and allow it to rise until it triples in size, approximately 2 ½ to 3 hours.
5. Punch down the risen dough and spread it out on a lightly floured surface. Evenly sprinkle baking powder over the dough's surface, then knead for an additional 5 minutes.
6. Divide the dough into two equal portions; set one half aside in a covered bowl. Divide the remaining half into 12 equal pieces.
7. Shape each piece into a smooth ball, placing each ball on a small square of waxed paper with the smooth side facing up. Repeat the portioning and shaping process with the remaining dough half. Cover all 24 dough balls and let them rest until they double in size, about 30 minutes.
8. Bring water to a boil in a wok, then reduce the heat to medium, maintaining a gentle boil. Position the steam plate on a small wire rack in the center of the wok, ensuring at least 2 inches of space between the plate and the wok. Working in batches, arrange the buns on their waxed paper squares onto the steam plate, leaving 1 to 2 inches between each bun.
9. Cover the wok and steam the buns for 15 minutes. Carefully remove the lid to prevent condensation from dripping onto the buns. Continue steaming the remaining buns until all are fully cooked.

Nutrition

• Calories: 44 kcal
• Fat Content: 1 g
• Fiber Content: 0 g
• Sugar Content: 1 g
• Sodium Content: 35 mg
• Protein Content: 1 g
• Carbohydrate Content: 8 g
• Saturated Fat Content: 0 g
• Unsaturated Fat Content: 0 g