Authentic Cantonese siopao and sinful chocolate cake - Apr. 22, 2004

CHEF Henry Cheung of The Good Earth Restaurant shares his siopao recipe.

Authentic Cantonese siopao
and sinful chocolate cake
Posted: 11:38 PM (Manila Time) | Apr. 21, 2004
Inquirer News Service
Good Earth

I'VE BEEN doing Kitchen Rescue for some time now and there are at least two popular text requests. Since I try to give you nothing but the finest recipes, I have asked one of my personal favorites, chef Henry Cheung of The Good Earth Restaurant, for his authentic Cantonese, also known as Hong Kong-style, Cha Siopao recipe.

If you haven't tasted Henry's food, I swear you're missing half of your life!

Another recipe is an all-time favorite of mine, an old-fashioned chocolate cake with a sinfully delicious caramel sauce.

Bon Appetit!

Cha Siopao
(Cantonese Style Roast Pork Asado Siopao)

1 1/2 c high gluten, high protein, first class or bread flour

1 1/2 c low gluten, cake flour or third-class flour (use cake flour for whiter dough)

6 g active dry yeast

3/4 tsp baking powder

4 tsp ammonia bicarbonate (to smoothen dough)

1 c warm water

Combine yeast, ammonia and warm water. Mix flours and make a well. Pour yeast mixture in the center of the well and slowly incorporate mixture. Once the mixture is solid enough to handle, knead until smooth.

Grease bowl and put the dough, cover with cling wrap. Let it rise until the dough has doubled in size. Remove dough from bowl, put on a flat surface and sprinkle with all-purpose flour on top.

Mix baking powder with dough and knead until smooth. Roll dough to 2-inch round and 12-inch long baton/log. Set dough aside.

High and low gluten flour is available at bakery supply stores or in Jubilee Trading in Farmers Market and in Chocolate Lover's. (Please check the yellow pages for their respective telephone numbers and addresses.)

Cha Siu filling:
(roast pork filling, good for 900 g of dough)

400 g Chinese roast pork, diced (available in Chinese restaurants)

Sauce for filling:

3/4 c low gluten flour

1/3 c scallion, chopped

1/3 c ginger root, pounded

3 tbsp salad oil

A.
1 c water

3 tbsp sugar

2/3 tsp chicken powder

1/2 tsp red vinegar

B.
1 tbsp oyster sauce

1 tbsp Chinese soy sauce

1 tsp sesame oil

2/3 tbsp salad oil

white bond paper cut to size

Sift the flour, set aside. Pour in salad oil in pan and add scallions and ginger, saute. Drain oil. In a bowl, combine flour, scallions and ginger. Put mixture A in a saucepan and bring it to a boil. Take the mixture off the fire and combine with flour mixture to form a paste. Combine roast pork and B together, mix well. Combine A and B. Divide the dough and filling into equal portions and wrap filling in dough. Line with bond paper. Steam over high heat for 15 minutes.

Authentic Cantonese siopao and sinful chocolate cake - Apr. 22, 2004.