I usually make plain mantou buns but someone asked if I made swirly ones like the commercially available, frozen ones.
Of course I had to try making it!
Here it is after a few tries! You could use the frozen “ube” available in Asian markets, or the fresh Japanese Purple sweet potatoes (Okinawan sweet potatoes), or the Stokes purple sweet potatoes. They will have a slightly different taste, depending on the sweet potato variety you used but they will all be delicious.
I hope you try this recipe out! The buns look so pretty but can go with any filling, sweet or savory, as they have a very mild taste! Enjoy!
Makes 12 buns
White Bread:
100 grams water
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon yeast
200 grams all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
Purple Bread:
100 grams water
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon yeast
30 grams cooked mashed purple sweet potatoes
200 grams all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
Procedure:
1. Prepare the white dough first: In the bowl of a mixer fitted with a paddle(or Thermomix), place water, sugar, and yeast. Stir gently to mix.
2. Add flour, baking powder, oil, and salt. Mix until incorporated. You can then knead by hand, the dough hook or by the kneading function of the Thermomix. Knead until smooth and elastic, around 5 minutes by hand or mixer, or 2 minutes with Thermomix. Transfer to a greased bowl, cover and set aside.
3. Repeat the same procedure with the purple dough. Place in another greased bowl, cover and set aside.
4. Let both dough rest for about an hour, until doubled in size.
5. Roll out the white dough into a rectangle, about 12 x 8 inches.
6. Roll out the purple dough to the same size.
7. Stack the purple dough on top of the white dough and roll up tightly. Pinch seams.
8. Score at 1 inch intervals, then go back and cut all the way through.
9. Set each bun on a piece of parchment paper, seam side down, and set on steaming racks/trays. Let rise, covered, until it doubles in size, about an hour.
10. Prepare steamer by boiling water in the pan without the steaming trays. You want the water boiling before placing the proved buns in the steaming trays/racks to steam.
11. Place the steaming trays/racks over the boiling water and let steam for 15 minutes. Turn off the heat but leave buns covered for 5 minutes more.
12. Remove the buns to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy!
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