Wormwood Steamed Buns

Ingredients

• 50 grams of mugwort (or 8 grams of mugwort powder)
• 500 grams of flour
• 6 grams of yeast powder
• 80 grams of sugar
• 250 grams of water

Preparation Method

1. Clean the freshly picked mugwort sprouts. Blanch in boiling water for 1 minute, then blend with an adequate amount of water in a food processor to create a paste. Add yeast powder to the mugwort paste and stir well (or mix mugwort powder with warm water and yeast powder, allowing the yeast to ferment properly).
2. Dissolve sugar in water.
3. Pour flour into a bowl and make a well in the center. Add the yeast mixture first, then the sugar water, and stir.
4. Knead the dough by hand. Let it rest for 10 minutes before kneading again for easier handling.
5. Let the dough ferment in a warm place until it increases to 1.5 to 2 times its original size.
6. Remove the dough, expel the gas, and knead until there are no air bubbles. Shape into an even long roll and cut into uniform square pieces.
7. Shape the mantou (steamed buns) and let them undergo a second fermentation for 20 to 30 minutes. Steam over cold water for 15 minutes. The fragrant mantou are then ready to serve.

Dietary and Therapeutic Effects

Mugwort-flavored mantou are visually appealing, sweet, and fragrant, making them a popular dietary therapy choice. Their primary health benefits include strengthening the spleen, stimulating appetite, aiding digestion, stopping diarrhea, and enhancing the body’s immune system.

Tips

1. The amount of water added to the mugwort should be half the quantity of the flour, and the dough should have the same consistency as regular mantou dough.
2. There are taste differences between northern and southern Chinese mantou; you can adjust the sweetness by adding or omitting sugar.
3. If the fermentation temperature is insufficient, you can ferment the dough in a pot over hot water, ensuring the dough does not touch the water.
4. After steaming the mantou, turn off the heat and wait for 15 minutes before opening the lid to prevent the mantou from shrinking due to a sudden temperature change.