sesame paste sesame cakes

How to Make Sesame Sauce Buns: A Step-by-Step Guide

Sesame sauce buns, a beloved Chinese street snack, are renowned for their crispy crust, tender layers, and savory sesame paste filling. Here’s a detailed recipe to recreate this treat at home.

Ingredients: For the dough, you’ll need 300g all-purpose flour, 120ml warm water, 5g yeast, 5g sugar, and 3g salt. For the filling, mix 100g sesame paste, 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tsp five-spice powder, 1 tbsp cooking oil, and a pinch of sugar. A glaze of 1 egg yolk and 1 tbsp water is also needed, plus sesame seeds for coating.

Steps:

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

2. Make the filling: Combine all filling ingredients in a bowl, mix into a thick paste.

3. Shape the buns: Roll the dough into a 30cm log, flatten it, and spread the filling evenly, leaving a border. Roll it up like a swiss roll, then coil it into a spiral. Flatten slightly.

4. Proof and glaze: Let the shaped buns rest for 20 minutes. Brush with egg yolk wash and sprinkle generously with sesame seeds.

5. Bake: Preheat the oven to 200°C. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and crispy.

Enjoy these warm, fragrant buns on their own or paired with soups. The key is layering the dough and filling evenly for the perfect texture!