Kitchen Recipe Collection
Mantou (Plain Steamed Buns)
The classic Northern Chinese staple. Soft, slightly sweet, and utterly comforting blank-canvas steamed buns that pair with everything.
- Prep
- 90 min
- Cook
- 15 min
- Total
- 105 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- easy
- Cuisine
- Chinese
Ingredients
Scaled for 4 servings
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 tsp active dry yeast
- 2 tbsp white sugar
- 1 tbsp cooking oil (or lard)
- 1/4 tsp salt
Equipment
- Mixing bowls
- Steamer basket
- Parchment paper
Instructions
- 1
Activate Yeast
In a bowl, dissolve the sugar and yeast in warm water. Let it sit for 5 minutes until frothy.
- 2
Mix Flour and Water
Add the yeast mixture, salt, and oil to the flour. Mix until a rough dough forms.
- 3
Knead into Smooth Dough
Knead vigorously for 8-10 minutes. This is crucial for a smooth, unwrinkled skin on the finished bun.
- 4
First Proof
Cover the dough and let it rest in a warm place until doubled in size (about 1 hour).
- 5
Punch Down Dough
Punch down the dough to release all air bubbles, and knead again for 5 minutes.
- 6
Roll into Cylinder
Roll the dough out into a long, even cylinder/log, about 2 inches thick.
- 7
Cut into Portions
Using a sharp knife, slice the cylinder into equal rectangular portions (about 2 inches wide).
- 8
Shape the Buns
Smooth the edges slightly. Place each bun on a small square of parchment paper.
- 9
Second Proof
Place the buns in the cold steamer. Cover and let them rise again for 20 minutes.
- 10
Steam
Turn the heat to high. Once steam escapes, steam for exactly 15 minutes.
- 11
Rest
Turn off the heat. Let the steamer sit untouched for 5 minutes to prevent the buns from collapsing.
- 12
Serve Hot
Open the steamer. The buns should be perfectly smooth and fluffy. Serve with congee, pickles, or braised meats.
Cooking Tips
- Do not under-knead the dough. The surface of the dough must be completely smooth before proofing.
- The 5-minute rest after steaming is the secret to buns that don't shrink or wrinkle.
Variations
- Fried Mantou: Deep fry the steamed and cooled buns until golden brown. Serve with sweetened condensed milk.
- Whole Wheat Mantou: Substitute half the flour with whole wheat flour.
Nutrition Estimate
210 calories · 6g protein · 40g carbs · 2g fat · 1g fiber per serving
