shepherd's purse buns

How to Make Savory Shepherd's Purse Buns

Shepherd’s purse buns, a traditional Chinese delicacy, are loved for their fresh, earthy flavor. Here’s a simple guide to making them at home.

Ingredients: For the dough, you’ll need 300g all-purpose flour, 3g yeast, 150ml warm water, and 10g sugar. For the filling, gather 300g shepherd’s purse (cleaned and chopped), 100g firm tofu (crumbled), 1 egg (scrambled and cooled), 1 tbsp sesame oil, 1 tsp salt, and a pinch of white pepper.

Steps:

1. Prepare the dough: Dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water. Let it sit for 5 minutes until frothy. Mix with flour and knead into a smooth dough. Cover and let it rise for 1 hour until doubled in size.

2. Make the filling: Sauté tofu until slightly golden. Add shepherd’s purse and stir-fry for 2 minutes. Remove from heat, mix in the scrambled egg, sesame oil, salt, and pepper. Let it cool completely.

3. Shape and steam: Punch down the dough and divide into small balls. Roll each into a round wrapper, spoon in filling, and pleat the edges to seal. Place the buns on parchment paper and let them rest for 15 minutes. Steam over high heat for 15 minutes.

Tip: For extra flavor, add a dash of light soy sauce or dried shrimp to the filling. Enjoy these buns warm—they’re perfect for breakfast or a light meal!