Steamed Mantau (Chinese steamed bun, 饅頭) using a Breadmaker

My assorted shapes of steamed buns or 饅頭. Can you tell I was playing with the shapes and failed miserably? Haha... I was trying to follow the pictures guidance from a Chinese cookbook that I have and I was totally sucked at it. Later I just simply shaped it however I liked. Do you see some scallions on some of the steamed buns? Those are my variation mantau listed below. I also tried some with black sesame seeds but didn't get much taste out of it.

This is a recipe shared by Gina few years ago. I copied it down because I loved the idea of using a bread maker to make mantau (as you know I am lazy). I think I told her I am going to try her recipe but I never did until now (see, now you know how lazy I am). I wanted to make this to eat with my soy 5-spice powder braised pork (coming up), so that was the motivation I needed. So glad I did, the steamed bun/mantau was indeed very soft and fluffy when warm. My girls couldn't stop popping it into their mouths too. Thanks Gina for sharing her tried and tested recipe! She got the recipe from a Taiwanese cookbook called "Zhong Dian Zhi Zuo".

Ingredients:

• 250ml water
• 100g sugar
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 500g Hong Kong flour or all-purpose flour (I used AP flour)
• 1 1/2 tsp. yeast

Method:

1. Put all into the pan of the bread maker according to list.

2. Press the DOUGH function and START.

3. After it is done, remove from the pan and knead on a little floured surface.

4. Flatten the dough into a rectangle shape, roll up and cut into blocks.

5. Set aside to proof for 10 minutes.

6. Steam over high heat for 8 minutes. Serve warm. Can freeze the leftover individually in the freezer (lay each on a tray 1 inch apart to freeze individually and then put them in a ziplock bag). Re-heat in the microwave (according to your microwave direction) or steam in a steamer (8 minutes) to heat it up.

For Variation:
Brush with sesame oil and add minced scallion before rolling it up. This is very fragrant and can be eaten as it.