Beef fried buns

I am in dim sum mood lately. Today lunch was some fried beef buns. Easy to make, soft and crunchy at the same time while they are still hot, very tasty. Cooking method is very similar to war tip dumplings. I have made enough for work lunch in the next couple of days.

Chinese: 牛肉水煎包

Slide show, click here

Ingredients:

For the bread dough
150g strong white flour
150g plain flour
about 160 - 170 ml water
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp sugar
3/4 tsp yeast (quick or instant)
1 tbsp cooking oil

For the meat filling
300g lean minced beef
about 3 spring onions (about ½ cup chopped)
1 tbsp grated ginger
1 tbsp light soy sauce
1/4 tsp salt
1 heap tsp cornflour
pinch of ground pepper
2 tsp sesame oil
1 ½ tbsp brandy or Chinese cooking wine

Method:

1. Mix the bread dough till you get a soft dough. Knead for 2 -3 minutes in a bread machine of by hand. Leave aside to rise till double in size (about 1 hour).
2. While the dough is rising, mix the meat filling and set aside.
3. When the dough has risen, tip it onto a flour dusted working area. Give it a quick knead, leave for 2 – 3 minutes to rest. Then roll it out to a rod shape about 3 cm thick and cut equally to about 15 pieces +/- 1. For 15 pieces, each will weigh around 33 – 34g per piece. Roll each piece into a ball with hand dusted with flour, cover dough balls with cloth.
4. With hand dusted with flour, stretch each ball like in the slide show till you get a disc around 6 -7 cm wide, fill it will a lump of meat. Then gather the edge together, pinch and seal it. Flatten the bun with fingers. Coat the sealed end side with plenty of flour, then place the floured side onto a tray (if not enough flour, the buns will stick and difficult to take out later).
5. Leave to rise for about 20 – 30 minutes.
6. Take a large frying pan brush with about 1 tsp of oil, heat till medium hot, pick up the buns carefully with a spatula and place them on the frying pan. Fry at medium heat for a minute or two or till the underside is golden brown. Flip the buns over, drizzle on 2 – 3 tbsp of water around the buns. The water will sizzle, cover the pan and let it steam and fry for about 3 - 4 minutes, checking about 3 minutes to make sure the underside is not too brown. Once all the water has gone and the underside is golden, flip them over again, cover and cook for another 30 second – 1 minute.
7. Ready to eat while hot on its own or dipped with sweet chilli sauce, soy, or a ginger black vinegar sauce.