Chinese Steamed Bread (Mantou)
This basic steamed bread recipe can be used for char siu bao, mantou, or cute character buns.
- Prep time
- 3 hr
- Cook time
- 15 min
- Yield
- 4 servings
- Difficulty
- EASY
Ingredients
Quantities are shown as originally provided.
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp active dry yeast
- 1/2 cup warm water
Instructions
- 1
Dissolve yeast in water.
- 2
Whisk flour, salt, and sugar, in a mixing bowl.
- 3
Add yeast water to your dry ingredients and lightly mix by hand.
- 4
Knead by hand or use a dough hook in a stand mixer (I use a dough hook because this dough is fairly wet) until dough can be stretched thin without breaking and its surface is shiny and slightly tacky (not goopy or sticky).
- 5
Cover and let rise for 2 hours.
- 6
When dough is done rising, divide into four portions. You can customize your buns with food coloring or fillings as needed depending on what type of bun you are making.
- 7
Place each bun on a square of parchment paper and place in a bamboo steamer.
- 8
Steam for 15 minutes.