Vegetable Steamed Buns 素菜包

Directions

1. Combine both flours and salt in a large bowl. Combine water, sugar yeast and the 1/2 tsp flour in a seperate bowl. Combine wet and dry ingredients together to form a moist and soft dough. Add a splash of water or a sprinkle of flour as needed if the dough seems too wet or dry.
2. Knead your dough on a lightly floured bench until smooth and glossy, about four minutes. Place in a bowl, cover with cling film or a damp towel and leave in a warm place to rise for one hour.
3. Meanwhile, make your filling. Heat 1 teaspoon of neutral oil and 1 teaspoon of sesame oil in a medium pan.
4. Add cabbage and stir fry for 1-2 minutes. Add a sprinkle of salt.
5. Add carrot and shiitake mushrooms and stir fry for another 2 to 3 minutes. Add the oyster sauce and stir, then let filling cool until easy to handle. [Editor's Note: You will probably have a bit of filling leftover after forming the buns, which would be excellent scrambled into eggs, tossed with noodles, or added to fried rice.]
6. Cut out a piece of parchment paper to fit inside a 12-inch steamer basket. (You can use a smaller one as well, you just might have to make the buns in batches).
7. Divide dough into six balls and form each ball into a sphere, then roll it (using a rolling pin or your hands) into a wrapper about 5 inches in diameter. Rotate the dough by 90 degrees every once so often when you roll. (Tip: if your dough is too moist, it will not shape well, so use a dusting of flour if necessary!)
8. Using this helpful video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guFb0CA0flc) as a guide, place a tablespoon of filling in the middle of wrapper, and fold sides of wrapper like a fan, to overlap each other. Place your finished, shaped buns on the parchment paper, leaving an inch of space between them.
9. Steam the buns over lightly simmering water for 12 minutes. Do Not Open The Lid throughout the steaming process!
10. After 12 minutes has passed, turn off the stove and let the buns sit for 5 minutes in the pot. Tilt your lid slightly on an angle make a small gap. Let buns sit for another 2 to 3 minutes. This process ensures your buns will be smooth and wrinkle-free.
11. Remove and serve! I eat mine with some homemade pickled daikon and a marinated cucumber salad.
12. Tip: After steaming, buns can be frozen and restated for a quick, yummy snack/lunch.