Soft and Fluffy Siopao

• Produce

  • 2/3 cup Bell pepper, red or orange
  • 1/4 cup Cilantro, fresh
  • 1 Leek or 1 small red onion, stem

• Refrigerated

  • 1 Egg

• Condiments

  • 1/4 cup Hoisin sauce

• Baking & Spices

  • 3 cups All purpose flour flour plus
  • 2 tsp Baking powder
  • 1/4 cup Granulated sugar, White
  • 2 1/4 tsp Rapid rise highly active yeast
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1 tsp Sugar

• Oils & Vinegars

  • 1/8 cup Cooking oil

• Dairy

  • 2 tbsp Butter
  • 2/3 cup Milk plus

• Frozen

  • 4 cups Char siu/ chinese barbecue link here

• Liquids

  • 1/2 cup Water

Found on theskinnypot.com

Description

Ingredients

• 3 cups All Purpose Flour flour plus ⅓ cup all purpose flour (separate use)
• ¼ cup white granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2¼ teaspoon Rapid Rise Highly Active Yeast (or 1 packet of Rapid Rise Highly Active Yeast)
• 2 teaspoon baking powder
• ⅔ cup milk plus ⅓ cup (separate use)
• ½ cup water
• 1 egg (room temperature)
• 2 tablespoon melted butter
• 1 stem leek or 1 small red onion, chopped
• ⅔ cup of red or orange bell pepper,finely chopped
• ¼ cup fresh cilantro,finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• ¼ cup Hoisin Sauce
• 4 cups char siu/ Chinese Barbecue link here
• ⅛ cup cooking oil

Directions

• Grease a large bowl with cooking oil set aside- we will use it to rise the dough.
• Place 3 cups flour,granulated sugar,salt,baking powder and yeast in the mixing bowl and mix completely using a wire whisk.Set aside.
• Place the additional ⅓ cup flour, ½ cup water and ⅓ cup milk in a small sauce pan and mix with spoon or whisk to incorporate, then heat it a low fire until pasty in texture ( as shown in the photo above).
• When the flour is already pasty, add it to the 3 cups flour mixture.
• Place the butter in a microwave safe cup and heat for 1 minute or until the butter is lightly melted and pour into the mixing bowl.
• Heat the ⅔ cup of milk in the microwave for 1 minute and add into the mixing bowl. Mix all of the ingredients TWO TO THREE TIMES using the electric mixer THEN add in the egg
• Mix the dough using an electric mixer with a hook on. Mix until it will for a fluffy and soft dough. NOTE: You will notice that the dough is not mixing well, but continue mixing because eventually, the dough will become soft and smooth.Transfer the dough to the greased bowl and let the dough rise in a warm place for around 1 hour.
• Heat the oil and add in the leeks/onion until it turns transparent. Add in the chopped pepper and Pork Char Siu and mix. Let the veggie flavor incorporate with the meat by cooking for 2 more minutes. Add in the Hoisin Sauce and sugar and mix. Cook for 2 more minutes. Add in the cilantro and mix. Turn off the heat and let the filling cool.
• PREPARING THE SIOPAO OR PORK CHAR BAO:
• When the dough had risen after an hour, form the dough into a small log and cut it into 7-14 small balls-IN MY CASE, THIS RECIPE YIELDED 14 LARGE SIOPAO .Using your hand, flatten the dough and place the filling on the middle. Seal the dough on the edges and arrange it on the steamer. Do the same to the remaining dough.
• COOKING THE SIOPAO:
• Cut parchment paper into 14 pieces. Around 2x2 size
• Boil 4-10 cups of water and steam the siopao for 20 minutes. You can freeze these siopao and microwave it wrap with wet paper towels and heat it for 1 minutes before eating or steam it so that it is soft and fluffy.