Su-style pickled mustard meat mooncakes

Suzhou-Style Savory Pork and Mustard Green Mooncakes: A Recipe Guide

Suzhou-style savory mooncakes, known for their flaky crust and umami-rich filling, are a beloved delicacy. Here’s a step-by-step guide to making them at home.

Ingredients: For the dough: 200g all-purpose flour, 80g lard, 80g water, 5g salt. For the filling: 150g ground pork, 100g pickled mustard greens (rinsed and chopped), 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tsp sugar, 1/2 tsp white pepper, 1 tbsp sesame oil.

Steps:

1. Make the dough: Mix flour and salt. Rub in lard until crumbly, then add water to form a smooth dough. Rest for 30 minutes.

2. Prepare the filling: Sauté ground pork until browned. Add mustard greens, soy sauce, sugar, and pepper. Cook until dry. Stir in sesame oil, then cool.

3. Assemble: Divide dough into 12 small balls. Flatten each, wrap with 1 tbsp filling, and seal. Press into a mooncake mold.

4. Bake: Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F). Brush with egg wash. Bake for 25–30 minutes until golden.

Tips: For extra flakiness, laminate the dough by folding butter into the rested dough twice. The filling should be moist but not wet to prevent sogginess. Enjoy these warm with tea for an authentic Suzhou treat!