Studio Food Entry #4: Buns Inspired from Spirited Away

Studio Food Entry #4: Sweet Red Bean Paste Stuffed Buns

From the movie Spirited Away, Chihiro eats delicious buns with Lin. I created my own recipe which is simple, using only salt, flour, sugar, and yeast or baking powder for the dough. For the filling, I bought pre-made anko or sweet red bean paste which you can get at your local Asian supermarket. You can make your own at home which I might make a recipe on in the future.
For more information of which scene Chihiro is found eating the bun, check out my Spirited Away movie review. Anyways, let's begin.

 

Step 1: Measure 1 1/2 cups of flour. Add in one tablespoon of sugar and one teaspoon of salt. Mix well. If you are not using yeast, add one to two teaspoons of baking powder.

  

Step 2: If you are using yeast instead of baking powder, combine 1/2 teaspoon of dry yeast and 1/4 cup of warm water. Add a pinch of sugar and mix well. If you used baking powder, just add 1/4 cup warm water.

  

Step 3: Knead the dough into a ball and cover with plastic wrap. Let rest for an hour in a warm place.

 

Step 4: Prepare the pre-made sweet red bean paste.

Step 5: After an hour, divide the dough into 4 balls.

  

Step 6: Spoon the sweet red bean paste into the flattened dough. Make sure you don't put too much bean paste where you can close the dough. Gather the edges and pinch to seal.

Step 7: Prepare a steamer and a pot of water. Place a damp towel over the steamer and place your buns inside. Close the lid and bring the water to medium high or until it boils. Then steam for 20 minutes or until the dough is cooked through.

Finished! The bun was perfectly moist and fluffy and the sweet red bean paste was amazing.

Note: For the recipe I tried, I used yeast. However, if you used baking powder, the texture may be different; experiment and see which one you like better.