red bean buns

How to Make Red Bean Buns: A Simple Guide

Red bean buns, a beloved Asian treat, are soft, fluffy, and filled with sweet red bean paste. Here’s a step-by-step guide to making them at home.

Ingredients: For the dough, you’ll need 300g all-purpose flour, 3g active dry yeast, 30g sugar, 1 tsp salt, 180ml warm milk, and 30g melted butter. For the filling, use 200g pre-made red bean paste (or cook dried red beans with sugar until soft).

Steps:

1. Activate yeast: Mix yeast and 1 tsp sugar in warm milk; let sit for 5 minutes until frothy.

2. Make dough: Combine flour, remaining sugar, and salt. Pour in yeast mixture and knead into a smooth dough. Add butter and knead until elastic.

3. First rise: Place dough in an oiled bowl, cover, and let rise for 1–2 hours until doubled.

4. Shape buns: Punch down dough, divide into 8–10 balls. Flatten each, wrap in 1–2 tbsp red bean paste, and pinch seams to seal.

5. Second rise: Place buns on a baking sheet, cover, and let rise for 30 minutes.

6. Steam: Arrange buns in a steamer, leaving space between them. Steam over high heat for 15–20 minutes. Rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Enjoy these warm, sweet buns as a breakfast snack or dessert! For a twist, try adding sesame seeds or a salted egg yolk center.