Char Siew Puffs Char Siew Sow Dim Sum Recipes

Steps:

• You can make the pastry up to 2 days before. Weigh the flour into a bowl and add 1/2 tsp salt. Holding the butter by the foil (to prevent it from becoming too warm), grate it directly into the flour on the coarse side of the grater. Dip the block of butter into the flour every now and then, and mix the grated butter into the flour with a cutlery knife to prevent it clumping together in the bowl. When the butter is evenly distributed throughout the flour, pour in 100g cold water. Mix with the cutlery knife until it clumps together. Tip onto your work surface and knead briefly to bring the pastry together - don't overwork or you'll lose the pockets of butter, which will create the layers. Wrap in cling film and chill for at least 30 mins.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 and line two baking trays with parchment. Squeeze the sausagemeat from the skins into a bowl. Add the five-spice, oyster sauce, hoisin and ginger. Mix until fully combined.
• Lightly flour your work surface. Roll out the pastry to the thickness of a 50p coin, then use a 10cm biscuit cutter to stamp out as many circles as you can. Fold the scraps back on themselves, but don't scrunch up the pastry, or you'll lose the layers. Re-roll and stamp out a few more if you can - you should make 18-20.
• Scoop the sausage mixture into balls (the size of cherry tomatoes) with a spoon and put in the middle of each pastry circle. Brush a little beaten egg over the pastry, then fold three sides in to partially cover the sausage and create a triangle shape, pinching the corners together. Brush more egg over the top of the pastry and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Arrange on the trays and bake for 25 mins until golden brown. Cool on the trays, ready to pack up for a picnic - or serve warm. Will keep in the fridge for up to 2 days.

Steps:

• Prepare Filling: Combine soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, sugar and water and stir until sugar is dissolved; stir in cornstarch.
• Heat oil in a pan, once hot, fry shallot till fragrant.
• Slowly pour in the sauce mixture and cook until sauce thickens.
• Add diced char siew to the sauce, stir to coat well.
• Prepare dough: Sift all-purpose flour, baking powder, custard powder and icing sugar into a mixing bowl.
• Rub in the butter until mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs.
• Stir egg into the flour mixture to make a pliable dough.
• Wrap dough in a large plastic bag (approx 20x30cm or 8x12inch) and chill for at least 30 minutes.
• Remove dough from fridge and roll it out (in the bag) to obtain a 8 x 12" rectangle.
• Cut the edges of the plastic bag and take the dough out; divide it equally into 12 portions (use a pizza roller/dough scraper for easier cutting).
• Put some filling on each dough portion, fold it so that filling is enclosed; seal edges by crimping with a fork.
• Brush the pastries with egg wash (lightly beat egg, water and salt together).
• Bake in a preheated oven at 180-190°C or 350-375°F for 20 minutes until golden brown.
• Serve while they are still hot or warm.