In my family (particularly for my Dad), there can never be too many scallions. The mild onion flavor is one that we enjoy in everything from sauces to cream cheese to fried rice. Recently, I experimented with pan-fried scallion pancakes. This is a steamed version, using a basic yeast dough recipe. While they don’t come together as quickly as scallion pancakes (because of two rises), they are incredibly simple to prepare and the dough will keep in the refrigerator for days.
With specks of oniony, salty goodness, these pillows of dough melt in your mouth. They are addictively delicious and light. And perfect for a snack, accompaniment to soup, or a tender sandwich bread. Throw in some pieces of cubed ham or bacon… FHE might consider it the ideal fusion bread.
To complete the scallion rolls (called “hua juan” or “flower twist” in Mandarin, I just discovered), this site provides a video tutorial.
Basic Yeast Dough Recipe, from Flavor Explosions
This is a recipe for the dough of the fluffy white skins of the char siu bao and the shanghai cabbage buns. It’s truly versatile — you can use the same dough and fill it with sweetened mashed red beans or lotus seeds for a dessert treat. Or just steam it by itself to turn it into “man tou” essentially steamed white bread that is used to soak up the wonderful sauce of Sichuanese or Hunanese dishes. If you shape the bun into a flat disc, it becomes the base for peking duck.
The dough can be allowed to rise slowly, covered, in the refrigerator for 1 day. Bring to room temperature before using. If you are not using the dough straight away, punch it down and wrap tightly with plastic wrap, for up to 3 days.
3 Tablespoons sugar
1/2 Tablespoons active dry yeast
1 1/4 cup water – half hot, half cold
3 cups unbleached “00” or high protein bread flour plus additional for kneading
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 cup canola oil
2 teaspoons baking powder, sifted
Part 1: Making and proofing the dough.
1. Proofing the yeast: Dissolve sugar in hot water. Add cold water to make a warm solution (105 – 115°F). Dissolve the yeast in the sugar solution. Stir lightly, and let stand in a warm place until mixture develops a creamy foam, about 7 minutes. (If mixture doesn’t foam, discard and start over with new yeast.)
2. Sift flour and salt into a large bowl. Make a well in the middle, and add yeast mixture and oil and stir to incorporate the flour until dough holds together and just come away from side of bowl. Add a little more water if needed.
3. Transfer to a lightly floured surface and knead. Lightly flour your hands if necessary. Knead (by using the heels of your hands and your body weight to push away from you, pull it back and fold in the sides of the dough towards the center. Turn the dough right angle every few kneads) until dough is smooth, soft, and elastic, about 10 minutes. Form into a ball.
4. Very lightly oil a large bowl, put the dough into the bowl and turn the dough so that all sides are coated. Cover the bowl tightly with a plastic wrap/damp tea cloth and let dough rise in a warm (75-80°F), draft-free place until doubled in bulk, 1-3 hours. The dough is ready when it does not spring back when poked with a finger.
Part 2: Finishing the dough – Using the dough
1. Uncover the dough, punch it down and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface.
2. Flatten it and make a well in the center. Sprinkle baking powder in the well, gather up the sides and fold to the center to incorporate the baking powder. Knead lightly for a few minutes till it becomes a ball again.
3. Divide the dough into 8-10 pieces.
Note: This basic dough can be used for char siu bau steamed pork bun recipes, plain steamed man tou recipes, shanghai cabbage steamed buns, chicken steamed bun recipes.
I am totally salivating. These buns are so beautiful and delicious looking.