Directions

To Make Red Bean Filling

1. In a pot of boiling water enough to cover red beans and boil for 5 mins.
2. Drain and return rinsed red beans back into pot, cover with enough water and boil for 1 hour till they are soft and mushy.
3. Drain red beans again and return to pot on medium heat. Add in sugar and cook beans till they form into a paste. Set aside to cool.

To Make the Dough (Using a Breadmaker)

1. Add all ingredients with dry yeast as the last item into the breadmaker machine bowl.
2. Set bread machine to dough mode.

To Make the Dough (Without Breadmaker)

1. Simply add all ingredients into a big mixing bowl and mix till all ingredients are well combined.
2. Remove onto floured surface and knead for 15 to 20 mins till dough is smooth and non sticky. Cover the dough with a cloth and let it proof for 40 mins to an hour.

To Shape the Matcha Baos

1. Once dough is ready, remove from bread bowl and roll out into a round disc on a floured surface.
2. Cut dough into 8 equal pieces or weigh with a scale for accurate measurement and form them into balls. Cover with a damp towel as you work.
3. With a rolling pin, roll each dough ball into 1cm thickness but thinner on the edge before filling with a big tablespoon of red bean paste.
4. Holding the flatten dough with the red bean paste with your palm, start to pleat the edges of the dough together to seal.
5. Place completed bao onto cut out baking paper.
6. With some excess dough, pinch a small amount of dough and roll it into a long strip. Arrange a ‘+’ strip onto bao.
7. Arrange completed bao into a bamboo steamer. Leave enough room around each bao as it will expand when steaming.
8. Steam bao on high heat for 18-20 mins.