Lotus Leaf Buns Recipes

Steps:

• Starter or Yeast Prep
• For the yeast version, combine the yeast, sugar, and warm water in a small bowl. Allow to bloom for about 5 minutes.
• For the sourdough versions, feed your 100% hydration starter so you have at least 160g. Or mix up the sweet stiff starter described above. Allow the starter at least double in size. This can take just a few hours or be overnight depending on your ambient temp and feeding ratio.
• Dough Mixing and First Rise
• Whisk together the dry ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer. Hand mixing is fine too.
• Add the wet ingredients (including the starter or yeast mixture) to the bowl and mix thoroughly with the dough hook attachment. When the dough comes together, turn off the mixer and touch it. If it's very sticky add a little more flour and if it's dry add a little more milk or water. The dough should feel somewhere between pizza and bagel dough hydration.
• Continue running the mixer on medium-low speed for about 5 minutes. Or knead by hand for about 5 minutes.
• Cover and let the dough rise until it has doubled. In warm temps, this was 40 minutes for the yeast dough and 4 hours for the sourdough.
• Dividing, Shaping, and Final Proof
• Prep 16 small pieces of parchment paper, about 4x4 inches. Another option is to make parchment circles that fit into your steamer and cut them into pieces around the bao just before loading. The cutting is so steam can come up on all sides. I used dinner plates to hold parchment circles and to cover them as well, but a baking tray and a damp tea towel or plastic wrap cover is fine too. I also made one batch with no parchment paper and the bao didn't stick to my pan, so I may skip the paper altogether next time.
• Divide the dough into 16 pieces and roll the pieces into balls. Line them up in sequence of how you rolled them because you'll begin shaping the first ball immediately after you finish rolling the last. I didn't weigh each ball but if you choose to, they're about 36g each. You're also welcome to make fewer, larger bao and extend the steam time by a few minutes.
• Cover the waiting dough balls with a slightly damp tea towel. With a rolling pin and a little flour, roll out a 3" x 5" oval. See the photo gallery below.
• Brush a thin layer of oil on the top and fold in half, oil-side in.
• Place the folded dough on parchment paper and continue until all the dough balls are shaped.
• Cover and let proof about 20 minutes for the yeast version and 3 hours for the sourdough version.
• Steaming
• With a two-layer steamer, you can do two batches of 8 buns, and each batch takes about 20 minutes. If you're doing the yeast version that proofs quickly and you have a single-layer steamer or workaround, you should refrigerate half your dough at this point so it doesn't overproof.
• Add water to the bottom of your steamer leaving 1.5-to-2 inches of empty space between the water and the next layer.
• Assemble all the pan layers and lid (no towel yet) and bring up to a boil.
• When the water is boiling vigorously and the buns are fully proofed (see photos for dough expansion), remove the lid, dry it off and wrap it with a fresh towel. Use a rubberband if needed to prevent it from dangling onto the stovetop.
• Add the bao to the layers of your steamer and cover with the towel-wrapped lid. Lower the heat until you hear a rattle of a simmer and not a loud rumble-boil.
• Your total cook time will be 8-10 minutes, but set a timer for 5 minutes and when it dings, quickly swap the layers of your steamer so the top is now closer to the water, then reset your timer for another 3-5 minutes.
• When the steaming is complete, don't remove the lid. Shut off the heat and let the buns sit for 8-10 minutes more. Then remove the buns to a very lightly oiled plate to cool.
• Check the water level and the towel. Add more water and get a new, dry towel if needed. Bring the water up to a boil again and repeat until all the bao are steamed.
• Serve immediately. Extra bao can be refrigerated for 2-3 days or frozen for about 1 month. To reheat, steam them again or microwave them wrapped in a damp towel.
• Steamer Workaround (if you don't have one)
• Put a small amount of water in a large saucepan or wok. Place a small bowl into the pan. Make sure the bowl is 1.5-to-2 inches taller than the water level. Top the bowl with the plate. There should be space between the sides of the pan and the plate for steam to pass through. Both the bowl and the plate should be able to tolerate high heat, and you should take care to let them cool before handling.
• The instructions for use are the same as above but without swapping of layers partway through the steaming.
• Bring the water to boil, transfer the proofed buns and parchment paper to the plate. Wrap the lid with a dish towel and place it on the saucepan.
• Set a timer for 8-10 minutes. After the steaming is complete, turn off the heat and leave the bao covered for 8-10 minutes.