Since I'm obligated to use pumpkin, an autumn ingredient as the theme ingredient for Little Thumbs Up for this month, I'm making use of its bright orange colour to help me to create something bright and pretty for Spring.
Well, let's see...
Here is the recipe mostly adapted and translated from the book, the first book of noodles for beginners by Carol Hu
Makes 10
Nice bright colour, isn't it? ... but I have to say that these pumpkin flower buns are not as prettily shaped as the plain ones that I made previously.
Although the previously made plain flower steamed buns are nicer in their looks, I find them a little too soft to eat with lesser texture or structure as the buns collapse immediately after their first bites. For this reason, I hope to pursue and explore more steamed bun recipes from the book, the first book of noodles for beginners by Carol Hu.
Although the previously made plain flower steamed buns are nicer in their looks, I find them a little too soft to eat with lesser texture or structure as the buns collapse immediately after their first bites. For this reason, I hope to pursue and explore more steamed bun recipes from the book, the first book of noodles for beginners by Carol Hu.
I have used a different shaping method from the book to shape these buns and wonder if this is the reason why the buns are not as pretty as expected. Personally, I don't think the problem lies with this alternative flower bun shaping method as the dough is actually quite sticky to handle.
Clearly, this recipe doesn't make pretty flowery buns but it makes very delicious buns with wonderfully moist and fluffy texture. You will see what I meant...
I have to say that making this pumpkin steamed buns dough can be a little tricky.
As this recipe contains mainly mashed pumpkin, the mash acts as the liquid agent to absorb dry ingredient and bind them together to form a dough. However, the absorption power of different batches of mashed pumpkin can vary depending on the actual water content of steamed pumpkin and type of pumpkin used. For this reason, I have increased the amount of milk slightly to combine all ingredients into a sticky dough initially and fine tune the texture of the dough slowly by kneading in more flour subsequently. This is what I did.
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I started making these buns with this butternut pumpkin... |
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I like the natural sweetness of this ingredient. |
I have to say that making this pumpkin steamed buns dough can be a little tricky.
As this recipe contains mainly mashed pumpkin, the mash acts as the liquid agent to absorb dry ingredient and bind them together to form a dough. However, the absorption power of different batches of mashed pumpkin can vary depending on the actual water content of steamed pumpkin and type of pumpkin used. For this reason, I have increased the amount of milk slightly to combine all ingredients into a sticky dough initially and fine tune the texture of the dough slowly by kneading in more flour subsequently. This is what I did.
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I made a sticky dough at first. After proving, I kneaded in more flour to form an easy-to-handle dough |
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These are the ingredients and steps that made the steamed buns pretty and yummy! |
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Keep stretching and twisting to get more defined flowery patterns. |
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These buns need any extra timing for second proving. |
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Not so flowery buns... Ops! The corners of the dough don't make very pretty buns. |
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... but they are all fluffy and delicious! |
Here is the recipe mostly adapted and translated from the book, the first book of noodles for beginners by Carol Hu
Makes 10
(including two not-very flowery looking buns made from the end of the dough)
For the dough:
180g pumpkin, steamed and mashed
215g all purpose flour
100g low protein flour, preferably bleached and self raising (optional) for extra fluffiness and fine texture
plus 15-20g to knead before rolling
1/8 tsp salt
20g caster sugar
1/2 tsp yeast
20ml vegetable oil, preferable canola oil
1/4 cup or 60 ml milk, lukewarm
To shape the buns:
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 tbsp sesame oil
3-4 spring onions, finely sliced
Using a breadmaker, mix all dough ingredients and knead into a smooth dough and allow it to prove for 1 hr. At this point, you can either store the dough in the fridge to use it on the next day or use it now.
If breadmaker is not available, kneading this dough by hand is possible. Combine pumpkin, both flours, salt, caster sugar and yeast in a mixing bowl. Make a well in the flour mixture, add milk and oil mix to form a dough. Transfer dough onto a lightly floured work surface. Knead to form an elastic and smooth dough (at least 15 mins) and then let it rise for 1 hr.
Before rolling, knead in 15-20g of low protein flour to fine tune the dough texture. Add more if it is required.
Roll into a large rectangle sheet with 5mm thickness.
Sprinkle 1/4 tsp salt evenly on the rolled dough. Using a pastry brush, brush the sesame oil on the dough. Then, distribute the spring onions throughout the oiled surface.
Start rolling the sheet along the longer side of the rectangle and roll it into a Swiss-roll-like rod and cut into 20 equal pieces. Place two pieces of cut dough on top of each other. Hold both ends with your finger and pull. Stretch and twist the dough while pulling and this will form a nice flowery pattern.Tuck in the ends of the dough into its bottom as you allow the flowery pattern to display as the main part of the bun.
Place a piece baking paper on each of the shaped buns and place them on steaming racks and place the rack under lukewarm water (about 37°C) and let it prove for 1 hr or double the size.
Steam buns for 15-20 mins or until done. The steam timing varies if you have multiple layers of steamed buns to steam. The layer that is closest to the direct steam will take 15 mins to cook. When ready remove the buns immediately from the steamer and serve warm.
Happy Steaming
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For the dough:
180g pumpkin, steamed and mashed
215g all purpose flour
100g low protein flour, preferably bleached and self raising (optional) for extra fluffiness and fine texture
plus 15-20g to knead before rolling
1/8 tsp salt
20g caster sugar
1/2 tsp yeast
20ml vegetable oil, preferable canola oil
1/4 cup or 60 ml milk, lukewarm
To shape the buns:
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 tbsp sesame oil
3-4 spring onions, finely sliced
Using a breadmaker, mix all dough ingredients and knead into a smooth dough and allow it to prove for 1 hr. At this point, you can either store the dough in the fridge to use it on the next day or use it now.
If breadmaker is not available, kneading this dough by hand is possible. Combine pumpkin, both flours, salt, caster sugar and yeast in a mixing bowl. Make a well in the flour mixture, add milk and oil mix to form a dough. Transfer dough onto a lightly floured work surface. Knead to form an elastic and smooth dough (at least 15 mins) and then let it rise for 1 hr.
Before rolling, knead in 15-20g of low protein flour to fine tune the dough texture. Add more if it is required.
Roll into a large rectangle sheet with 5mm thickness.
Sprinkle 1/4 tsp salt evenly on the rolled dough. Using a pastry brush, brush the sesame oil on the dough. Then, distribute the spring onions throughout the oiled surface.
Start rolling the sheet along the longer side of the rectangle and roll it into a Swiss-roll-like rod and cut into 20 equal pieces. Place two pieces of cut dough on top of each other. Hold both ends with your finger and pull. Stretch and twist the dough while pulling and this will form a nice flowery pattern.Tuck in the ends of the dough into its bottom as you allow the flowery pattern to display as the main part of the bun.
Place a piece baking paper on each of the shaped buns and place them on steaming racks and place the rack under lukewarm water (about 37°C) and let it prove for 1 hr or double the size.
Steam buns for 15-20 mins or until done. The steam timing varies if you have multiple layers of steamed buns to steam. The layer that is closest to the direct steam will take 15 mins to cook. When ready remove the buns immediately from the steamer and serve warm.
Happy Steaming
Please support me and like me at Facebook...
Pumpkin buns.. Looks really soft & fluffy & yummy, but I've never had it before.. When I read your title (before reaching the end of the title), I thought it was pumpkin steamed cake, like yam cake (woo tau kou).. So I thought this was "kam kua kou", but oohhh, I was wrong, it's steamed buns! Looks really good.. I can have 5 for breakfast - kosong.. 5 for lunch, dipped in kaya.. 5 for tea, dunked in Milo and 10 for dinner, with egg mayo spread !!
ReplyDeleteHi Zoe!
ReplyDeleteI can't tell you how much I enjoyed reading this post. I bought some Butternut Squash from the farm stand down the block and today I cooked it. I was going to roast it but it was too hot to turn the oven on so I figured I would try steaming it. I can't believe how quickly it steamed to tenderness. Now, I don't know what to do with it. Oh how I would love to try these buns but I have so many questions I don't think I could do it. What is low protein flour? I don't have a bread machine. And then there's my yeastaphoibia. I'm going to save this post and do a bit of research. In the mean time I think I'll freeze my steamed squash:)
Your buns look so lovely, Zoe. I imagine these must taste soooooo good. Thank you so much for sharing...
Hi Louise,
DeleteLow protein flour is flour with lower protein content. Typically, most all purpose flour contains 10g of protein in every 100g and most low protein flour contains 6-8g of protein in every 100g. With lesser protein (or gluten), the dough will have lesser tension and strength, thus yielding buns with less elasticity and more tender texture.
If you are kneading the dough by hand, you have to keep kneading until the dough is smooth and elastic and this means that the gluten in the dough has developed its tension. I know this process will be manual and time consuming but it is totally essential to make the yeast and gluten works optimally.
Have fun steaming... or maybe still researching? :p
Zoe
Hi Zoe,your pumpkin buns with yellow-orangey colour,very beautiful !!!!
ReplyDeleteHi Zoe,
ReplyDeleteI make these pumpkin flower before. Mine is a little bit over proved. The nice flower shape was gone and the skin wrinkle a bit after steaming. Yours looks lovely with that golden colour.
mui
Hi Zoe
ReplyDeletenever try 葱花卷before as I worry i cant handle to shape the flower as what you did.
Thanks Zoe for your link up to LTU, really appreciate it.
so fast...^^
ReplyDeletei like the pumpkin's colour....very nice!
Yes, me too... I always enjoyed looking at your post pictures! And at this post, I especially love your last picture....the buns looks so soft indeed! Pumpkin and spring onions makes this buns exceptionally sounds really yummy!
ReplyDeleteHi Zoe, very glaring in LTU today ... I need to put on sunglasses cos everywhere is bright orangy pumpkin chiffon cakes. And your Pumpkin Spring Onions Chinese Flower Steamed Buns. So cheerful .. love this bright colours.
ReplyDeleteLooking delicious here. Yummy yummy.
ReplyDeleteHi Zoe, your flower buns using pumpkin look so nice with natural orangy colour. I believe these buns are soft and flavourful with the spring onions. I made these but these days I just make them round. Age is catching up or am I too busy.....? Hehehe!
ReplyDeletethe color so pretty,I am planning to make steam bun tonight with pumpkin,hope it's come out good
ReplyDeleteHi Zoe, Love this bright golden buns. Sounds healthy and yummy :)
ReplyDeleteIt's October, so it's pumpkin season! These are terrific -- love the recipe. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteHi Zoe,
ReplyDeleteYour buns looks very soft and fluffy. Have seen this book at bookstore but sadly it is not in bilingual! Will try to make something for this month if I can.
Hi Zoe , not only is your buns pretty , I bet they are delicious , thanks for sharing ;-D
ReplyDeletewow.. this looks so exotic and special.
ReplyDeleteLike the sunny bright color n the mantou looks good too.
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous colour for the buns! They look terrific :D
ReplyDeleteCheers
Choc Chip Uru
Zoe,
ReplyDelete这南瓜葱花包子做得很棒哦,松松软软的。。一定很好吃。赞!
Hi Zoe, I love pumpkins a lot for its vibrant orange colour. You've made these buns look so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteZoe, I adore these beautiful steamed buns; so soft, fluffy, and to 'die for' delicious! Your photos are always so inspiring, and your recipes are superb! xo
ReplyDeletewow! love the orange colour!
ReplyDeleteZoe, I love pumpkins! These pumpkin buns must be so yummy. The color itself will bring a smile to anyone's face :)
ReplyDeleteYour pumpkin flower buns looks so bright and inviting. Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteDelicious and nutritious!
ReplyDeleteYour flower buns are so nicely done. Don't think I can do it with my clumsy hands!
ReplyDeleteZoe,
ReplyDeleteYou have a very nice electronic steamer, I should buy one like yours, and your pumpkin buns are lovely, I have never tried anything like this, I will bookmark this recipe for trying. :)
Btw, we are holding a blog-hop called MTR #3 - Taste of Autumn, featuring fruits and veggies harvested in autumn, from 1 Oct to 30 Nov. You are welcome to linkup with us. Hope to see your entry, have a nice day! :)
http://everybodyeatswell.blogspot.be/2014/10/mtr-3-taste-of-autumn-fruits-and.html
Looks really soft and yummy.........
ReplyDeleteOoooo your buns look so soft and fluffy, and definitely loving the colour!
ReplyDeleteThis looks amazing! I wish I had enough room in my house to steam buns. All I have room for is a food processor and a stand mixer. But some day...
ReplyDeletePerfect timing. I actually just got a butternut toady. Now I have some ideas.
ReplyDeleteWow, bet you can open up a bakery, Zoe! Have a wonderful weekend, dear!
ReplyDeleteSuch a gorgeous buns, looks stunning..
ReplyDelete哇!可以想像这包子有多么柔软美味!!好喜欢它那天然颜色!!
ReplyDeleteHi Zoe,
ReplyDeleteYou are really good in buns.
I must try out one of your buns recipe!
Hi Zoe, I'm back today for this month's LTU - Pumpkin. These pumpkin steamed buns looked soooooo good! The colour of the pumpkin is always the reason why I like using it in cooking/baking, haha! Very pretty-looking buns!
ReplyDeleteWow! the colour of the buns are so tempting!
ReplyDelete