Food before Surfing, Surfing than FOOD…

We are heading to learn to surf lessons in Woolgoolga, NSW, Australia, and the day before journeying out, I am cooking my butt off so the kids have snacks, food, and the fridge on wheels to get us through without the expenses of fast food for six.

Steamed buns ( Bao Buns) with a twist are what I decide to start with, and today, because they taste SO GOOD, and I only just finished watching Kung Fu Panda where Po the Panda was enjoying steamed buns.

I thought I would share the recipe.

Chocolate STEAMED buns…

Ingredients and equipment needed.

FOR THE BUNS…

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
•  2 tsp baking powder
•  2 tsp yeast
•  2 tsp sugar
•  1 1/4 cups of warm water

FILLING FOR BUNS.

• 180 grams of chocolate of choice.
•  2 tbsp of double cream (thickened will work fine if you don’t have double)

EQUIPMENT…

• Sieve
•  mixer (you can do this in a bowl or by hand which is what I do.)
•  measuring cups & spoons
• glass measuring jug.

HOW TO PUT IT ALL TOGETHER…

• Step one, sieve the 4 cups of flour & baking powder into a large bowl.
•  Step two, In your jug, add the 2 TSP of sugar, 1 1/4 cups of warm water & 2 TSP of yeast into the jug, stir the sugar and yeast till the sugar is dissolved… This process activates the yeast and between 2-10 minutes foam should come to the top, this is how you know the yeast is activated.
•  Step three, once yeast is activated and warm still add the moisture to your dry ingredients forming a dough. If your dough becomes too dry add a little more warm water if it is too sticky add another tsp of flour at a time.
•  Step four, pull the dough out onto the bench and knead for around 5 minutes or use your machine to knead the dough for the same time.
•  Step five, Leave the dough to rest and rise in a warm place for 1-2 hours, it should double to triple in that time.
•  Step Six, While the dough is rising break up your chocolate and put it into a heatproof bowl over a double boiler to melt, add the cream and mix, once blended place in the fridge till hardened.
•  Step seven, pull your risen dough out and roll it into a log, cut your log into 22-24 pieces.
•  Step eight, take each piece one at a time and flatten it in the palm of your hand, take your hardened chocolate ganache and place a large TSP of chocolate into the center, fold the edges back to cover the chocolate, roll into a ball. Place each rolled, chocolate filled Bao onto a piece of grease proof paper to proof ( the proofing for 15 minutes will give your bun the fluffy texture we all love)
•  Step Nine, place in your steamer leaving a space between them to grow, put a clean dishcloth or chees cloth under the lid to stop condensation from dripping on your buns. leave for 20 minutes and smell the odor of fresh cooking bread filling the air, take them out, and place them on a plate to enjoy.
• Step TEN, Sit back and enjoy them hot with the chocolate melted through, or place them in a container as a quick go-to snack for up to three days (they never last 1 day here so good luck)

There you have it a great snack that kids enjoy it is filling, tastes great, and is so versatile.

Make a pork filling, beef, chicken, or vegetarian filling instead of chocolate to enjoy these as a meal instead of a dessert snack.

These little Bao buns are just the quickest, easiest little things to create for that day out with kids.

Now that we are packed and ready to go with our buns, cupcakes, and veggie snacks time to hit the beach for some surfing and body boarding lessons.

Surfs up, have a great day.