Ingredients:
• 500 grams pau flour
• 150 grams sugar
• 250 grams water
• 1 tbsp instant yeast
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tbsp shortening
• 300 grams lotus paste, or bean paste, homemade or store bought
• Red food colouring, 1 drop of food colouring + 1 tbsp water
Preparing the dough:
1. First place Pau flour into the mixing bowl of a stand mixer. Then add in sugar, baking powder and instant yeast.
2. Using the hook attachment, stir to mix everything together.
3. Then add water just enough to get a soft dough. Knead on medium speed about 5 minutes, just to mix the water and flour together. Then add in the white shortening and continue kneading for another 8 to 10 minutes until the dough is soft, smooth, elastic and does not stick to the sides of the mixing bowl or to your fingers.
4. Remove dough from mixing bowl onto a floured surface and briefly knead again till all is evenly distributed. And you have the basic dough for making pau (buns).
Making longevity peach buns:
1. Divide the smooth dough in half. Roll into long cylindrical shapes and divide the dough into 30g each and roll into balls.
2. Roll each dough into a flat circle with a small rolling pin. Shape lotus paste filling (20g) into a ball and place in the centre of the dough. Gather the sides to enclose the bun and pinch to seal.
3. Shape the bun into a peach shape. Use a plastic dough cutter to make a vertical indentation in the centre of the bun to resemble a peach. Repeat the same with the rest of the dough and fillings.
4. Place the buns on grease proof paper and leave to proof in a warm place for 30 minutes or till the buns have puff up about half their original size. And we are ready to steam the buns.
Steaming Buns:
1. To steam the buns, add some water into a steamer and bring to a rolling boil. Place the risen buns into the steamer and close the lid. Steam over high heat for 15 minutes.
2. Leave the buns to cool a little in the steaming tray. Then spray with a little red colouring (dilute a drop or two of red colouring in 1 tbsp water). Transfer the buns to cool on wire rack to prevent the bottom of buns from becoming wet or soggy. And we are done!
Serving Longevity Peach Buns: Longevity Peach Buns
1. Let the buns cool for about 5 minutes before serving.
2. Great to serve these soft and fluffy longevity buns with hot chinese tea and Enjoy!