Shoutao's recipe

How to Make Steamed Peach Buns (Shoutao): A Complete Guide

Steamed peach buns, or *shoutao*, are symbolic Chinese pastries shaped like peaches, representing longevity and good fortune. Making them at home is simpler than you think! Here’s a step-by-step guide.

Ingredients: For the dough, you’ll need 300g all-purpose flour, 3g yeast, 30g sugar, 150ml warm milk, and 10g vegetable oil. For the filling, choose red bean paste, lotus seed paste, or a sweetened mixture of chopped nuts and dates.

Steps:

1. Prepare the dough: Dissolve yeast and sugar in warm milk, let it sit for 5 minutes until foamy. Mix in flour and oil, knead into a smooth ball. Cover and let it rise for 1 hour until doubled in size.

2. Make the filling: If using bean paste, skip this step. For nut filling, mix chopped nuts, diced dried dates, and 2 tablespoons sugar.

3. Shape the buns: Punch down the dough and divide it into 12 equal portions. Flatten each portion, wrap in 1 tablespoon of filling, and seal tightly. Roll the dough into a ball, then pinch one end to form a peach-like tip. Use a knife to score the surface slightly for texture.

4. Steam: Place buns on parchment-lined steamer trays, leaving space between them. Let them rest for 15 minutes. Steam over high heat for 15 minutes. Turn off the heat and let them sit for 5 more minutes before opening the lid.

For color, you can add a few drops of red food coloring to the dough or brush the buns with a pink mixture after steaming. Enjoy these delicate, sweet buns as a lucky treat!