Steamed Turtle Bun @ 'Mee Koo'

This kind of steamed bun is called 'Mee Koo' in Hokkien, meaning of Red Turtle Bun. The Chinese are usually used them in offering the god during prayers, which symbolized longevity and prosperity. Click here, for more interesting traditional way of making the buns. Usually, they'll make a turtle shape out of the dough with head, tail & legs but I just keep it simple.

The following recipe is adapted from Aunty Yochana.

Ingredients for Starter Dough :

125gm all purpose flour

1 tspn baking powder

2 tbsp sugar

1/2 tbsp yeast

150ml water

1 tspn vinegar

Combine water, sugar, yeast and vinegar together and mix well. Then stir in flour and baking powder and mix to combine. Keep the mixture cover. Leave to rest for overnight or at least 8 hours.

Ingredients for Main Dough :

500gm Bao flour

1/2 tspn salt

5 tbsp sugar

1 tspn baking powder (I omit this)

200ml water, add gradually, stop if it is too wet

1/2 tspn alkaline water

Method :

(1) combine starter dough and main dough ingredients together to form a soft dough.

(2) withdraw 250gm dough and mix with a few drops of red colouring.

(3) leave doughs aside to rest for an hour or untill double in size.

(4) then divide both doughs into 8 portion.

(5) slightly flatten the red dough and stick it to the plain dough.

(6) Then slowly wrap the plain dough into the red dough. But leave the bottom uncovered by red dough.
(7) place dough onto a piece of greaseproof paper and leave to rise for 15-30 mins.

(8) steam for 15 mins over medium heat.

These kind of buns are more or like French sourdough bread but is much softer and fragrant due to the sweetness in it. After prayers, we can have them steam and eat with jam or coconut egg custard. But I prefer to have them in French toast.