Soft steam bun (Mantou)

Instead of buying frozen Mantou from store, why don’t you try making your own healthy version Mantou for your little one?

There are only few ingredients required, mostly available in any household. We used pau flour to make mantou, you can use plain flour if there is no pau flour available at home. Other than flour, all you need is a few simple ingredients and lots of love to make them. Try to get your little one involved in the rolling of the dough, it is as fun as playing with play dough.

Ingredients required are:

500g of flour (Pau flour preferred)

260g of warm water

5g of yeast

30g of sugar (adjust sweetness to your liking)

15g of shortening / cooking oil

5g of beet root powder (Optional)

Step 1 – pre-ferment yeast

In a clean jug, melt yeast and half of the sugar in warm water. Set aside for 5 minutes.

Step 2 – dough kneading

Mix pre-ferment yeast liquid into flour and remaining sugar, stir well with a spatula until flour are incorporated into the liquid. Knead the dough vigorously for at least 5 minutes, or used a stand mixer with kneading hook to work on the dough. When a smooth dough is formed, add the shortening and knead for another 5 minutes.

Divide dough into 2 equal portions. Add beetroot powder into one of the portion and continue kneading until well blended.

Step 3 – first proofing

Cover the doughs with a tea towel and rest in 2 mixing bowls for one hour, or until it is doubled in size.

Step 4 – shaping

Lightly dust a clean, dry work surface, roll the doughs to expel all the air captured in the proofed dough. Then pat the dough into a square with your hands before you start rolling. Stack the 2 doughs and roll them into a log. Cut them into equal size and place on parchment paper.

Step 5 – second proofing

To make soft texture mantou, it is important to proof the shaped mantou for second time for another 20 minutes.

Step 6 – steaming

Steam the mantou for 12 minutes. After steaming, remove your steamer off the fire and wait for around 5 minutes before lifting the cover, otherwise the buns might collapse.