Let's make Steamed Longevity Peach Buns! Also known as Shou Tao Bao (寿桃包) or Chinese Birthday Buns, these soft fluffy Chinese steamed buns are shaped to resemble peaches and sprayed with a thin layer of bright pink colouring. It's actually quite easy to make these impressive looking traditional steamed chinese buns. So let's start cooking!
300gramslotus paste, or bean paste, homemade or store bought
red food colouring, 1 drop of food colouring + 1 tbsp water
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Instructions
Preparing the dough:
First place Pau flour into the mixing bowl of a stand mixer. Then add in sugar, baking powder and instant yeast.
Using the hook attachment, stir to mix everything together.
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.
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:
Divide the smooth dough in half. Roll into long cylindrical shapes and divide the dough into 30g each and roll into balls.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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:
Let the buns cool for about 5 minutes before serving.
Great to serve these soft and fluffy longevity buns with hot chinese tea and Enjoy!
Lotus paste can be purchased in any shops that sell cake or bakery ingredients.
After steaming the buns and if the centre line of the peach shaped buns is not clear, you can always press over it with a dough cutter or toothpick while the buns are still hot.