Japanese Sweet Potaoes Mantou 日本紫薯馒头

Sweet potatoes are our favourite. Mom has been looking for sweet potatoes mantou recipe quite some time but did not satisfied with the result.

番薯是我们的挚爱，妈妈一直在找寻合适的馒头制作食谱，但是始终找不到成果满意的食谱。

Finally this recipe worked so well. The mantou comes out so soft even when it is cool. It was surprising. 

最后修正了食谱后，有了意想不到的成果，馒头冷却时还很松软，这真叫人惊喜。

Mom bought these Japanese purple sweet potatoes from wet market. It costs mom RM7 for 600g. Really love the natural colour of the mantou. No need to add any food colouring into it.
妈妈从菜市买这些日本出产的紫色番薯，600克的价格是马币七零吉，很喜欢紫番薯的自然颜色，完全不需要加加添任何食物色素。

Rinse and peel the skins of the sweet potatoes. Cut them up into bite size or smaller cubes. Steam sweet potatoes until soft. Turn off the heat and keep the potatoes in your steamer to stay warm.

把紫番薯冲洗干净然后削皮，接着切成块状。把紫番薯放在锅里蒸熟，熄火后仍旧留在蒸炉里以确保紫番薯保持其温度。

The ingredients are 400g purple sweet potatoes puree , 500g pau flour, 170ml milk, 110g sugar, 65g corn oil, 10g instant yeast, 1 teaspoon baking powder and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
要准备的材料是400克紫色番薯泥，500克的包粉，170毫升的牛奶，110克的白糖，65克的玉蜀黍油，10克的发酵粉，1茶匙的发粉和1/4茶匙的盐。

Place all wet ingredients into the bread maker, then add the dry ingredients on top. Girls, with the help of bread maker, mom can make mantou with passion and serve with pleasure.
把所有湿材料放进面包机，然后把干材料放在上面。孩子，面包机是妈妈的好助手，有了它，妈妈可以热衷于制作馒头，快乐于分享馒头。

Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add 10g instant yeast to the well.
倒入干材料，在包粉上挖一个井，在洞里倒入10克的发酵粉。

The bread machine will mix and knead your dough. The dough should be about doubled in size after one and half hour in the bread maker.
面包机会混合和糅捏你的面团，1小时30分钟后面团会在面包机里双倍发大。

Girls, pay close attention to the texture of the dough. Try adding a little bit more flour while kneading if the dough is too sticky. If it is hard, add a little more milk.
孩子，留意面团的结构，加入一些包粉搓揉如果面团太粘手。同样的，如面团太干燥，就加一些牛奶吧！

Divide the dough into 24 equal portions and form them into balls. Cover the dough with a clean towel. Let the dough rest for 15 minutes.

把面团分成均匀的24 部分，然后揉成球形。在面团上盖上干净的布，让面团休息15分钟。

Girls, mom use kitchen scale to weigh the dough portions so that mom can get the same size mantou.

孩子，妈妈通常用枰来量面团，这样我们就能拥有相同质量的馒头。

Roll out the dough until it becomes water dripped shape.
把馒头捏成水滴型。

Flatten the the dough from the base towards the triangle using a rolling pin.
用杆面杖辗平面团，把面团从底端卷向三角形的一端。

Cutting along the center of the dough and fold in.

在面团中间剪开，然后把两边折进。

Girls, mom shaped the mantou into croissant shape. Do you like it? Mom likes the croissant shape than the normal roll because it adds character to the mantou.
孩子，妈妈把馒头揉成牛角型，你们喜欢吗？妈妈喜欢牛角型馒头多于普通型的馒头因为牛角型让馒头更独特。

Or you prefer the flower shaped mantou? It is beautiful to look at and wonderful to eat.
或者你喜欢花型的馒头呢? 它们外表看起来美观，内在也很扎实。

Place each shaped mantou on the steamer rack. Bring a pot of water to boil. Transfer the steamer rack into the pot. Steam over medium heat for about 8 - 10 minutes.

把已经定型的馒头放进蒸笼里，然后把一锅水煮沸，再把蒸笼放进锅里, 中火蒸至8-10分钟。

Dear girls, give it a try. Spent your time in the kitchen, plus a huge dose of patience. If you know how to make your own mantou, you will not buy the packets of frozen pre-made steamed mantou from the supermarket anymore.
亲爱的孩子，尝试做馒头吧！花一些时间在厨房，用一点耐心，倘若你会自己制作馒头，那么你不需要到百货市场购买工厂包装的冷冻馒头。

Girls, instead of normal mantou roll shape, you also can shape mantou into croissant shape. It is fun.
孩子，除了普通的馒头造型，你其实可以做有趣的牛角造型，这为你带来种种乐趣。

Mantou typically paired with a warm glass of soya bean milk and Chinese tea. It is a good waking up in the smell of freshly steamed mantou. Why not have a try on making mantou on your own? 
馒头和一杯温热的豆奶和中国茶是最佳拍档。在馒头新鲜的奶香味中醒来，确实是一件奇妙的事。为何不尝试自己动手制作馒头呢？