Sweet Yam Taro Buns
A Sweet and Creamy Taro and Yam Treat
Sweet yam taro buns are delicious, visually appealing, and nutritious. The filling of taro buns has to be fragrant and smooth in order to taste good. Ample mixing allows the taro puree to become delicate and fine. Fried with sugar and light cream over a low heat, the resulting filling is sweet and smooth with an enticing, creamy aroma.
Ingredients
- 2 ¾ cups (300 grams) all-purpose flour
- 7 ounces (200 grams) taro
- 7 ounces (200 grams) sweet yam
Seasonings
- 2 heaping tablespoons (30 grams) sugar
- 1 scant teaspoon (3 grams) yeast
- 0.35 ounce (10 grams) light cream
- 0.35 ounce (10 milliliters) salad oil
Cooking Directions
Preparations
- Peel and wash yams. Dice, and then put in blender. Add 2/3 cup (150 milliliters) water. Blend. Strain away chunky bits, leaving just the yam juice. Set aside the yam juice for step 4.
How to make taro filling
- Peel and wash taro. Slice and heat in steamer. While they are still hot from steam, mash into taro puree. Place in blender. Add a bit of warm water. Blend into a smooth, fine paste.
- Pour blended taro paste into pan. Add sugar and light cream. Fry over low heat until sugar completely dissolves and the entire mixture becomes relatively dry and thick. This is the taro filling.
- Tip: Taro is naturally sweet, so do not add too much sugar, or the sweetness will be overpowering. Adding too much sugar may also cause the filling to lose too much water, which will make the buns more difficult to form.
How to make the dough
- Activate yeast with a bit of warm water. Pour yeast-water solution and yam juice from step 1 evenly on top of all-purpose flour. Add a bit of salad oil. Stir in one direction with chopsticks to produce a dough with a smooth surface. Cover with plastic wrap and let ferment for approximately 2 hours so dough doubles in size.
How to assemble yam taro buns
- Divide dough into equal pieces approximately 1.76 ounces (50 grams) each. Knead into balls, then flatten. Use rolling pin to press into circular dough wrappers of appropriate thickness.
- Add appropriate amount of taro filling from step 3 to center of dough wrapper. Use the area between your thumb and index finger to pinch the edges of the dough wrapper, gradually sealing it up. This is the uncooked sweet yam taro bun.
Put it all together
- Lay a sheet of oil paper or moist gauze at the bottom of a steamer basket. Arrange uncooked sweet yam taro buns on top, opening facing downward, with ample space between each bun. Cover steamer basket and let sit for 30 minutes.
- Add appropriate amount of water to steamer pot. Add steamer basket inside. Bring water to boil over high heat. Lower to medium heat and steam for approximately 20 minutes. Turn off heat and let sit for approximately 3 minutes. Serve.
How Love of Food is Expressed in Cantonese
Greeting in Cantonese: "Have you eaten yet?"
How to wrap up a conversation in Cantonese: "Let's get together for tea next time."
The first thing Cantonese people often say when they get home: "What's for dinner?"
What friends often say when they see each other in Cantonese: "I just found a great new restaurant!"
What Cantonese people often say when there's nothing going on in the morning: "Let's go for morning tea."
What Cantonese people often say after an all-nighter: "Let's go for morning tea."
What Cantonese people often say when there's nothing going on at night: "Let's go for late-night snacks."