Pain bao vapeur au matcha
  • Dessert
  • 1 serv.
  • 105 mins.

Steamed matcha bao buns

Vegetarian

Fluffy, steamed and filled with a generous matcha cream: meet our sweet bao buns! At Nōka, we wanted to give this Asian street food classic an indulgent twist, with a light, velvety and intensely matcha cream hidden at the heart of every bun. A recipe to share (or not 😉), perfect for a treat-filled weekend 🍵

Ingredients

Bao buns

  • 250 g flour
  • 130 ml lukewarm milk
  • 25 g sugar
  • 1 tsp dried baker’s yeast
  • 1 tbsp neutral oil
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • 1 pinch salt

Ultra-creamy matcha cream

  • 200 ml whole milk
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 30 g sugar
  • 15 g cornflour
  • 1 to 2 tsp culinary matcha
  • 100 ml whipping cream (30-35% fat), well chilled
  • Matcha spread (to replace the cream)

Method

Steamed buns

  1. Mix the lukewarm milk, sugar and baker’s yeast. Leave to rest for 5 to 10 minutes.
  2. Add the flour, baking powder, salt and oil.
  3. Knead for 8 to 10 minutes, cover and leave to rise for about 1 hour.
  4. Divide into 6 balls, flatten them slightly and leave to rest for 15 to 20 minutes.
  5. Steam for 12 to 15 minutes. Leave to cool before filling.

Silky matcha cream

  1. Whisk the egg yolks with the sugar and cornflour.
  2. Dissolve the sifted matcha in a little hot milk, then add the rest of the milk.
  3. Gradually pour over the yolks, whisking.
  4. Return to the saucepan over a medium-low heat and whisk until the cream is thick and smooth.
  5. ⁠Cover with cling film touching the surface and leave to cool completely in the fridge.
  6. Whip the cold cream until it forms soft peaks.
  7. ⁠Gently fold the whipped cream into the cold matcha cream. You’ll get a light, velvety and intensely matcha cream.

Assembly

  1. Make a small hole in the base of each cooled bao.
  2. Transfer the cream to a piping bag.
  3. Generously fill each bun until the centre is nice and full.
  4. ⁠Chill for 20 to 30 minutes before enjoying.

Recipe notes

Store the filled baos in the fridge and ideally eat them within 24 to 48 hours.

For the lazy ones among us: simply make the bao buns and fill them with our matcha spread. Indulgent results guaranteed, no cream required!

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