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Steamed Chinese bread


steamed Chinese bread

Steamed bread is something very different from what we are used to. Let's find out together how to prepare it with the original Chinese recipe.

If you have ever dined at a Chinese restaurant , you will probably have come across steamed bread, or mantou , on the menu. These soft rolls, prepared solely with flour, water and yeast, have a delicate flavor and are totally salt-free.

However, there are several recipes that include the addition of more or less sugar and the replacement of water with milk . We will give you the traditional recipe, gradually specifying which substitutions you can make. What makes this bread so special, however, is precisely the steam cooking, preferably in the traditional bamboo steamer which will give the dish a truly particular aroma.

Bamboo steamer
Bamboo steamer

Ingredients

For the steamed bread

  • Flour 00 – 220 g
  • Water (or milk) – 110 g
  • Dry brewer's yeast – 2 g
  • Granulated sugar (optional) – 1 teaspoon
  • Fine salt – 1 teaspoon

Preparation

How to make Chinese Steamed Bread Recipe

1

Dissolve the yeast in the water (or milk), then add the flour , little at a time, mixing first with a wooden spoon and then by hand. Also add a teaspoon of salt and one of sugar to make the flavor of the mixture more balanced.

2

Transfer the dough onto a wooden pastry board and work it until it is smooth and homogeneous. Put it back in the bowl, cover it with a cloth and let it rise until doubled (about 2 hours).

3

Now roll it out with a rolling pin to form a rectangle half a centimeter thick and roll it around the long side. Work the loaf obtained briefly with your hands and then, with a pastry knife, cut dough cylinders of 30-40 g each . You can also work the dough to obtain round buns.

4

Gradually place them on slightly larger squares of baking paper. Let the rolls rise for another 30 minutes.

5

In the meantime, bring a pan with 3 inches of water to the boil. Once steam begins to form, transfer the buns with the baking paper to the bamboo basket and cook them for 8 minutes covered with the appropriate lid. Serve them hot.

We also leave you a video with all the steps to make this recipe. You will notice differences in the ingredients dictated, as mentioned, by the different preparation techniques.

If you love Chinese cuisine and are looking for other special ideas to amaze your family then we recommend you also try gua bao , perfect for filling.

Conservation

Steamed bread will keep for a couple of days in a plastic bag.

Origin and history

Steamed Chinese bread is a traditional dish from the north of the country where rice cultivation has given way to wheat. Originally it was a dish for the rich, since growing grain required greater investment, but then it turned into a workers' food, prepared in the form of a large loaf of bread.

Here, however, we are used to seeing mantou as small sandwiches , with a shiny surface and a soft crumb. They also exist in a stuffed version (with meat or vegetables) and are called baozi . Their sweet version, however, requires them to be fried and served with condensed milk.

There is a curious legend regarding the origin of the recipe. In fact, it seems that they were invented by Zhuge Liang, prime minister of Shu, during the period of the Three Kingdoms (220 AD), returning to his homeland after defeating the barbarians. However, the army found its road blocked by a river that was impossible to cross. A barbarian prisoner told them that according to tradition a sacrifice of 49 human heads was required to cross the strong current.

Not wanting more bloodshed, the strategist decided to fill sandwiches with cow meat and throw them into the river. It is therefore no coincidence that their name sounds exactly like "barbarian head" in the original language.

Read also
How to use the bamboo steamer? The best recipes from appetizer to dessert

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