At the end of the meal, I was stuffed.
I will describe how to make Baozi, my new favorite Chinese food. It takes about three hours to make. Here are the steps:
For the dough
1) In a small bowl, sprinkle yeast over warm water. Allow it to sit for 10 minutes.
2) In a stand mixer, sift sugar, baking powder and flour. Add salt and pour in the warm water yeast mixture until the dough forms a ball. Knead for five to 10 minutes.
3) Place dough in oiled bowl. Coat the dough into the oil and store it in a draft-free place for two to three hours.
For Filling
1) Cut 16 squares of wax and spray with cooking oil.
2) Take dough out of storage. Punch it down and divide in half.
3) Roll each half into rectangular logs and slice each log into 8 pieces. Roll a slice into a ball and shape it into a thin flat disc.
4) Spoon the filling into the center of the disc.
5) Allow the buns to rest for 20-30 minutes.
6) Steam the buns in a steamer basket for 15 minutes.
7) EAT!
Baozi is more popular in west China. A lot of people eat it in a major city called Chengdu. It was invented in the third century AD during the Three Kingdoms period.
In northeast China, fried rice and fried meats are the staple food. The sour cabbage and dry tofu that I mentioned earlier are very popular where I live.
