Purple Sweet Potato Steamed Flower Buns 紫薯开花馒头包子

Prepare Ingredients:

Weigh and have ready the white dough ingredients for making the steamed buns.

Also weigh and have ready the purple dough ingredients for making the steamed buns.

Preparing Mashed Purple Sweet Potato:

Start by steaming the purple sweet potato. First peel and cut purple sweet potato into smaller pieces. Place in bowl and steam for 15 minutes or till purple sweet potato is soft.

Then remove from steamer and mashed the purple sweet potato while it is still hot. Then prepare to make the dough for the buns.

Preparing White Dough:

Start by making the white dough. In a large mixing bowl, mix in all-purpose flour, yeast and sugar. Then gradually add in milk. Stir with spatula and then knead into a sticky dough.

Then add in butter and slowly knead the butter into the dough. Knead till a smooth and soft dough is formed. Wrap with cling wrap and chill in refrigerator while we prepare the purple dough.

Preparing Purple Dough:

In another mixing bowl, mix in flour, mashed purple sweet potato, yeast and condensed milk. Then gradually add in milk and stir with spatula to combine everything together. Using your hand, knead into a sticky dough.

Then add in butter and continue to knead into a smooth and soft dough.

Making Steamed Flower Buns:

Transfer purple dough onto work surface. Then roll the purple dough into a log shape. Cut and divide the dough into 10 equal portions, about 30g each.

Work with one dough at a time. Pull and tuck the dough from top to bottom so the seams are at the bottom and the surface is relatively smooth. Roll the dough into a smooth round ball in between the palm of your hand. Cover the dough balls with cling wrap.

Then remove the white dough from the refrigerator. Roll into a log shape. Cut and divide into 10 equal portions, about 35g each.

Working with one dough at a time, gently knead the dough. Roll into a smooth and round ball. Then gently flatten with the palm of your hand.

Roll into a round white dough. Then place the purple dough ball in the middle and pinch to wrap and form into a ball.

Cup the dough with both palms and move the dough in a circular motion to shape it taller. Then using a floured and sharp knife, make two slits across the top of the bun. Repeat the same for the rest of the rolled dough balls to form into flower shaped buns.

Place the flower buns into a bamboo basket or steaming tray. Cover and set aside to proof for 30 minutes. After proofing, the slits will be more intense and the buns will be light in weight. Place the buns on a steamer with cold water. Steam for 10 to 12 minutes when the water starts to boil.

When done, turn off heat and wait for about 5 minutes before opening the lids of the bamboo steamer. Then transfer steamed buns to cool on wire rack.

These soft and fluffy steamed buns taste best when served hot. So Enjoy!