Hua Juan Bao is Chinese Steamed Flower Buns stuffed with Sesame and Spring Onions. These are shaped and steamed and make a fantastic meal anytime. This is supposed to be a popular street food.
These are bought on the street as either breakfast or a snack. These buns are fragrant with ginger or garlic with meat or even as plain buns. The other versions have the scallions mixed with sesame and twisted to look like a flower. Hua Juan means Flour twist in Mandarin.
This is a yeast dough recipe and got to plan ahead if you want to make it. I came across two different recipes that had the filling done differently. I obviously choose the easy way out and followed the recipe that had the filling being added later. The first recipe called for adding the chopped spring onions to the dough and letting it proof.
I also saw a video that showed how to shape these buns, and since the recipe calls for sesame oil and that video showed these seeds, I happily added that too as I love sesame seeds. I made only half of the original recipe and got about 6 buns and I plan to make these again as both Konda and Peddu loved it so much. I was really so surprised that they liked this even above the other cheese stuffed ones that I baked that day.
The day I made this, I had planned for so many other dishes that I was simply not able to click the pictures as I was so tired still cooking and baking. So this dish was completely shot by Konda and she couldn't get the vertical ones I was demanding. I let her choose the props and the way she wanted to set, as you can see, she is all for macro clicks. I pitched in between to manage one vertical shot for the Pinterest. I must say I am so obsessed with that and my styling all the Mega BM Vertical pins.
Now back to the Hua Juan Bao, my choice for H in the A to Z International Street Foods, if you want to know the Flatbread for H, read this post.
In this A to Z International Street Foods:
A for Arancini
B for Bunny Chow
C for Chatamari
D for Dürüm
E for Empanada
F for Fataa’ir Farmaajo
G for Gilgeori Toast
Step by Step Pictures for making Hua Juan Bao
Hua Juan Bao / Chinese Steamed Flower Buns
In a wide bowl, take the flour, yeast, sugar and add warm milk. Knead well to form a soft pliable dough. I used my food processor and it was very convenient to get the dough done.
Cover with a cling film and let it rise. I normally preheat my oven and keep it inside for it to rise fast.
When the dough has doubled, punch it again and divide it into balls. I only made half of the above recipe and I got about 6 buns.
Mix the chopped spring onions, toasted sesame seeds, and oil in a bowl.
Roll out each ball into a long oval and cut into long strips using a sharp knife, from the top, leaving 1-inch space, make 1/4 inch lines from top to bottom.
Continue making like these marks leaving 1 / 8 space in between each line.
Once you are done, brush the spring onions, sesame mix over this.
Pick up the disc with both hands, twist, and tuck the ends underneath to shape the buns and place on a square of parchment paper.
Place the shaped buns on the plates and leave them to proof again.
Once it doubles again, steam the buns for 10 to 13 minutes.
Serve with it’s easy to handle.
I refrigerated some and warmed it in microwave the next day. I am told these freeze well as well.
Recipe
Hua Juan Bao / Chinese Steamed Flower Buns
Ingredients
For the dough:
- 1 tsp Instant Yeast
- 1 cup Milk heated to 90-95 degrees F
- 3 cups All Purpose Flour
- 6 tbsp Sugar
- 1/4 cup Cooking Oil
For the scallion-sesame glaze
- 3 tbsp Spring Onions chopped scallions green parts only
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/4 tsp Sugar
- 1 tbsp Sesame Seeds
Instructions
- In a wide bowl, take the flour, yeast, sugar and add warm milk. Knead well to form a soft pliable dough. I used my food processor and it was very convenient to get the dough done.
- Cover with a cling film and let it rise. I normally preheat my oven and keep it inside for it to rise fast.
- When the dough has doubled, punch it again and divide into balls. I only made half of the the above recipe and I got about 6 buns.
- Mix the chopped spring onions, toasted sesame seeds, and oil in a bowl.
- Roll out each ball into a long oval and cut into long strips using a sharp knife, from the top, leaving 1 inch space, make 1/ 4 inch lines from top to bottom.
- Continue making like these marks leaving 1 / 8 space in between each line.
- Once you are done, brush the spring onions, sesame mix over this.
- Pick up the disc with both hands, twist, and tuck the ends underneath to shape the buns and place on a square of parchment paper.
- Place the shaped buns on the plates and leave to proof again.
- Once it doubles again, steam the buns for 10 to 13 minutes.
- Serve with it’s easy to handle.
Notes
[inlinkz_linkup id=760129 mode=1]
If you want an Indian Style Buns, try these Masala Khara Bun
Priya Suresh says
Wow, this steamed flower buns looks fabulous and aromatic. Simply prefect and adorable those buns looks. Seriously you have nailed them very much as we get in CHinese store here. Good job Valli.
Sandhiya says
I love steamed buns and these flower shaped buns look so awesome. You have perfectly shaped those buns and it looks very inviting and delicious.
Harini says
They look beautiful Valli. Interesting way to shape buns. Adding spring onions is definitely flavorful.
Gayathri Kumar says
These buns are so beautiful Valli. I have tried steaming bao once and loved it to the core. With scallions and sesame seeds these sound so flavouful too..
manjulabharathkumar2016 says
wow those look fabulous valli , and I sure can see how well your kids enjoy all your experiments , You never forget to mention them in all your post, how sweet.. You have made them so perfect I love steamed buns a lot with bits of scallion how gorgeous they looks, I eat with my eyes first before I actually relish them .. This looks awesome !!
Padmajha PJ says
Perfectly made steamed buns Srivalli. These pictures make me so nostalgic. I never attempted to make these until I came here. Back then, we would buy these and enjoy them on our evening walks! I need to taste them now...
Anonymous says
The steamed buns look so good..love the way they have been shaped, the twisting gives them such a pretty look. Konda has done an awesome job with the clicks and the props. in spite of her busy schedule she has helped you..how nice.
Vaishali Sabnani says
The buns look fantastic Valli..i love the way they have been twisted to give them this shape, with Konda clicking..the buns look real to life. The shape and the design both look fabulous.
Sharmila - The Happie Friends Potpourri Corner says
The flower shape looks lovely ,im sure kids will love it for that and such an awesome looking bun!!
Srividhya Gopalakrishnan says
I love savory buns and these are very inviting and that shiny glaze makes it super tempting.
Pavani says
Lovely looking steamed buns Valli. They have a nice pretty flower shape and the the filling sounds delicious. I'm bookamarking the post to try some time soon.
kalyani says
cute shaped buns ! I had bookmarked it but never got around making, love the way they are shaped up !
Priya Srinivasan says
i love these steamed buns, and the shape is very cute!!! you have shaped it so pretty valli! and konda has done a great job clicking them!!! Me too obsessed with vertical shots, i click few horizontal shots first and quickly change to vertical! i feel more convenient while clicking vertical shots,especially food!
cookingwithsapana says
I have always wanted to make the chinese steamed buns and now I have the recipe too. Love the beautiful shape of these buns.
mayurisjikoni says
A fabulous recipe Srivalli. The flower shaped steamed buns look so pretty. I love steamed buns. Beautiful shots by Konda.
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
I have made the chinese scallion pancakes which is pan fried. The steamed version looks so good. My husband had been bugging me to make a steamed bun for this BM, but I did not choose any. I am bookmarking this to try for him.
Simply Tadka says
I love the way you shared the recipe and makes tricky recipe into simple way.
Suma Gandlur says
I guess your daughter has become your right hand. 🙂 I was wondering about how the texture of these buns turned out. Is it like our modaks or different because of the apf?
Srivalli says
Yes Suma, she helps in tasting and testing and the texture was more like momos and not modak..:)