Sweet Potato Mantou (Steam Buns)

Mantou Steamed Buns

Sweet potato mantou (番薯包) is one of my favorite bao (包) or Chinese steamed buns. Whenever I go back to Malaysia, I would always buy these warm, fluffy, sweet, and soft mantou from the various steamed bun vendors dotting the kopitiam (local coffee shops), markets, roadsides, gas stations, night markets, etc. They are absolutely delightful.

My son loves it as a snack, too. Unfortunately, in the US, the only similar steamed buns that I can find here are the frozen and plain mantou in the Chinese grocery stores. There are no sweet potato mantous. I always miss them.

Practice Makes Perfect

A couple of weeks ago, my friend posted her homemade sweet potato mantou recipe on her Facebook. I asked for the recipe immediately. She found the recipe online here and had success making them at home.I was so excited.

Finally I can make some homemade mantou that I have been craving for, with the Hong Kong flour or bao flour that I have brought back from Malaysia.

I spent some serious time in the kitchen, plus a huge dose of patience. It was a success. Though the looks department could be improved significantly (which I am sure practice makes perfect), my sweet potato mantou were pretty good…soft, warm, and tasty.

I love them, and I am sure my son will enjoy them as a snack before bedtime tonight!

How Many Calories Per Serving?

This recipe is only 329 calories per serving.

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Sweet Potato Mantou (Steam Buns) Recipe

Servings 5 people

Prep Time 1 hour

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes

How to Make Chinese Mantou - soft, pillowy and fluffy steamed buns are THE BEST! Make these sweet potato mantou with step-by-steps.

Calories 329 kcal

Author Bee | Rasa Malaysia

Ingredients

A:

• 1/2 tablespoon yeast (5.5 g/0.2 oz)
• 75 ml warm water
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar

B:

• 75 g sweet potato (or "yam" in the United States) (2.6 oz)
• 250 g Chinese bao flour, Hong Kong flour, or cake flour (8.8 oz)
• 4 tablespoons sugar
• 4 tablespoons oil
• 1 pinch salt

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Directions

1. 1

   Combine the yeast, sugar and warm water in a bowl. Stir to mix well. Set aside for 20 minutes. The yeast mixture will rise and becomes foamy.

2. 2

   Steam the sweet potato until soft, discard the water that seeps out after the steaming. Using a spoon, mash the sweet potato into a puree.

3. 3

   Add the sweet potato puree and all the ingredients in B and also the yeast mixture and mix using a stand mixer on low speed, for 20 minutes. You can also knead with hand for the same time or until the dough doesn't stick to your hand. Transfer the dough out of the stand mixer and lest rest/proof for 45 minutes, covering it with a damp cloth.

   
4. 4

   Dust the surface with some flour and divide the dough into 3 equal portions. Make each portion into a log.

5. 5

   Use a rolling pin to flatten the dough to a somewhat rectangle shape. Wet the surface of the dough with just a wee bit of water, using a pastry brush or your hand.

   
6. 6

   Roll the dough up tightly(this is important so the mantou remain a nice shape after steaming), into a log.

   
7. 7

   Cut the dough into 4 or 5 equal pieces, in mantou shape and place them on 2-inch by 2-inch baking or steaming paper sheets. Repeat the same for the remaining two portions. You will make a total of 12-15 small mantou.

   
8. 8

   Bring your steamer to a boil and steam the mantou in batches, for 12-15 minutes.

Recipe Notes

1. I used bao flour or Hong Kong flour specifically for Chinese steamed buns. If you are in Malaysia or Singapore, you can get the bao flour easily from baking supply shops or supermarkets.
2. For best results and accuracy of the recipe, please use the metric measurement.
3. All purpose flour and cake flour should work just fine, or you can try this Vietnamese steamed bun flour found in Asian supermarkets in the US. I haven't tried this recipe using all purpose flour, cake flour or the Vietnamese steamed bun flour so I don't know the end results.
4. Make sure you have new yeast, as old yeast will not rise/proof properly.
5. Use warm water to activate the yeast. It's important.
6. The texture of the mantou is a little dense, not the super soft and fluffy type but my friend in Malaysia tried the exact recipe and had very soft and fluffy mantou, perhaps due to climate difference.
7. My friend sent me this recipe, which is in Chinese, which she got it from here. I basically cut the quantity of the following recipe into half.

Nutrition Facts

Sweet Potato Mantou (Steam Buns) Recipe

Amount Per Serving (5 people)

Calories 329 Calories from Fat 108

% Daily Value*

Fat 12g18%

Saturated Fat 9g56%

Sodium 10mg0%

Potassium 100mg3%

Carbohydrates 49g16%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 10g11%

Protein 6g12%

Vitamin A 2130IU43%

Vitamin C 0.3mg0%

Calcium 12mg1%

Iron 0.5mg3%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Chinese

Keyword: Sweet Potato Mantou