How to make Purple Sweet Potato Chinese Steamed Buns/Mantou (馒头) which are pillowy soft, fluffy and has a sweet aroma of sweet potato

Mantou (馒头) or Chinese Steamed Buns is a type of steamed bread which is popular in Northern China.

There are many variations of mantous be it plain, sweet or savory. You can even try out my steamed scallion flower bun.

Steamed Scallion Flower Buns

For this post, I am sharing with you a sweet purple coloured mantou. Don't worry, this is a natural purple colour from purple sweet potato.

This recipe is adapted from Boon's Secret Recipe 2 under 'My Wife's Signature Pumpkin Mantou'. I substituted the pumpkin with purple sweet potato as I happened to have it. 

Well, overall, this mantou is pillowy soft and very delicious.

Purple Sweet Potato Mantou
Recipe adapted from Boon's Secret Recipe 2 with minor modification

For those who are interested in simple and easy budget meals, local kuih-muih, desserts and snacks, you should get all his 3 series which come in handy whenever you want a comfort and warm meal for your family.  I have no regrets adding these 3 series to my existing cookbook collection.

Ingredients A:
- 500g purple sweet potato (pared off the skin and cut into small pieces)
- 480ml water (keep this water after boiling it with potato)
- some pandan leaves
Ingredients B :
- Sweet potato water from ingredients A
- 250g caster sugar
- 1 kg all purpose flour
- 1 sachet dried yeast
- 3 tbsp softened butter

Method for ingredients A - mashed purple sweet potato :-

1) Boil ingredients A over medium heat for 10 minutes. Turn off heat and discard pandan leaves. Keep the sweet potato water (for ingredients B).

2) Remove sweet potato into a basin or big bowl and mash it.

Method for ingredients B dough - (please take note I used bread machine):-

1) Put in mashed sweet potato and all the ingredient B except butter as per your bread machine instruction.

2) Press dough function and let it knead.

3) When the dough is smooth, add in butter and continue the kneading process.

4) Let the dough rest for 30 minutes.

5) Take out the dough and lightly hand knead it. Divide the dough into pieces according to your preferred size.

6) Roll and shape the dough any shape you like. I shaped it into buns.

7) Place the shaped buns on a greaseproof paper and let it rest for 15 minutes.

8) Steam over rapid boiling water over high heat for 13 minutes.
9) Serve warm.

Serve warm for breakfast or tea 

These mantous have sweet aroma of sweet potato 

This is recipe is a keeper. Try it and you will know what I mean. 

Note :
1) If dough is too dry, add a bit of water or if too wet, sprinkle some flour onto the dough.
2) You can freeze the steamed buns and re-steam the frozen buns (about 3 minutes) whenever you crave for it.

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Parents who have tough time trying to coax their kids to eat fish, should try this simple and nutritious smelt which I think most kids would happily eat it without being asked

Shishamo Capelin or Caplin is a small forage fish of the smelt family found in the Atlantic and Arctic oceans. It is a common fish in Japanese cuisine. It's usually grilled or fried whole and served with its roe intact. This Japanese popular delicacy and appetizer can be found on the menu of izakaya (tapas) style Japanese restaurants.

Do not be fooled and underestimate this tiny Shishamo Caplin fish. 

It is a good source of protein and calcium. It is consumed for its abundant roe and the entire fish can be eaten from head to tail! It has become one of the must-haves when dining in Japanese restaurants. 

Children who do not like fish can start them with Shishamo Capelin. It is a good source of protein and calcium, keeping meals well balanced. Besides, it's very delicious and addictive too!

Pan Fried Shishamo Caplin (Japanese smelt) served with Grated Daikon

Ingredients :
- 1 pack of Shishamo (8 Shishamo)- cleaned and lightly marinated with a dash of seasalt
- oil for pan fry
- 1 small daikon (peeled and grated)
(I actually grated 1 medium size as hubby likes raw grated daikon)

Seasoning : (to taste)
(mix all in a serving dish)
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1tsp rice vinegar or Apple Cider vinegar (I used Japanese rice vinegar)
- 1tsp lemon juice

Method :

1) Heat oil in a non-stick pan and fry the small fish until both sides are golden brown.

2) Dish out and place the fish in a serving dish with the mixed seasoning.

3) Serve it while still hot and crispy with grated daikon.

Eat the whole fish including the head and tail

Enjoy this yummy fish when it's still hot and crispy especially the head!!!

Have a great weekend ahead and cheers!!

Recipe source : Japan Gourmet

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Sorry to inform that for the time being, I have disabled comment box as I won't be able to return visit to my fellow bloggers who are kind enough to drop me a line or two. The comment box will be enabled when I am not so tied up with my work schedule. However, you may contact me by leaving your message or comment at SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL AND HEALTHY LIVING FACEBOOK. My sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused. Thanks for visiting my blog and have a nice day :) 

An awesome way to kick start your day with this super easy and natural sweetness healthy bloody red smoothie which is packed with 3 superfood and quick energy enhancer

This bloody red smoothie tastes deliciously sweet with no added sugar or honey

I usually have my so-called 'Morning Drink' one or two hours prior to my regular breakfast. My 'Morning Drink' is usually juices or smoothies and they vary from day-to-day depending on my grocery list.  Smoothie is super-duper easy to prepare and you can mix and match depending on personal preference.

A glass of healthy smoothie which is made-up of beetroot, pineapple and kurma (dates)

Beetroot is one of my favorite main ingredients for smoothie. It is healthy and packed with nutrients as mentioned here

Besides, pineapple boosts immune system and packed with nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Do click at the above image for more info on benefits of pineapples.

Instead of adding sugar or honey to my smoothie, I prefer adding kurma as it's considered to be one of the best energy boosting snacks as they are power-packed with natural sugar, strengthen the bones and maintain healthy weight. Do click at the above image for more info.

With the combination of these 3 super ingredients, this is a power-packed nutrient smoothie!

Healthy Beetroot Pineapple Kurma Smoothie

Ingredients :(Please take note no exact or fixed measurement for smoothie. Just be creative and depending on your personal taste)

- 1 cup beetroot, fresh or frozen (peeled and chopped)

- 1 cup pineapples, fresh or frozen (peeled and chopped)

- 6 kurma (deseeded)

Method :

1)  Blend all the ingredients with enough water with a powerful blender and blend on high until smooth. 

2) Serve immediately.

If you prefer cold smoothie, do add some ice and/or frozen beetroot and pineapples. Just blend everything together

This healthy beetroot pineapple kurma smoothie is the perfect pick-me-up

A nutrient and fiber-packed smoothie with all the goodness of the beets, pineapples and golden kurma

A delicious smoothie with its natural sweetness with no added sugar

A perfect drink if you are feeling under the weather.

Do enjoy and cheers!

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Sorry to inform that for the time being, I have disabled comment box as I won't be able to return visit to my fellow bloggers who are kind enough to drop me a line or two. The comment box will be enabled when I am not so tied up with my work schedule. However, you may contact me by leaving your message or comment at SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL AND HEALTHY LIVING FACEBOOK. My sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused. Thanks for visiting my blog and have a nice day :) 

An Easy peasy recipe on how to make a popular Chinese vegan dim sum dish which is deliciously gluten-free and it's none other than Steamed Daikon Radish Cake 萝卜糕

This simple yet delicious classic radish cake 萝卜糕 is suitable for vegetarians and vegans

Daikon Radish cake 萝卜糕 is a popular Chinese dim sum dish. The main ingredient of this steamed cake is daikon radish as its name implies. (To me, I think white radish, winter radish, oriental radish, long white radish are in fact the same humble daikon radish. Correct me if I am wrong). You can easily get daikon radish in wet market or in any Asian grocery stores around the world. Daikon radish cake 萝卜糕 is a savory treat made with daikon radish, spices and rice flour which is steamed, sliced and pan-fried to perfection so it has thin crunchy crispy layer on the outside, but soft and tender on the inside. It is easily available in any of the dim sum restaurants in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan as well as overseas China town restaurants. Besides, it is commonly eaten during Chinese New Year, since radish (菜頭, chhài-thâu) is a homophone for "good fortune" (好彩頭, hó-chhái-thâu) in Hokkien. Over here in Malaysia, we have radish cake for breakfast as well as yum cha.

For this post, I am making steamed daikon radish cake which is suitable for both vegetarians and vegans.

Ingredients :

- 500gm daikon radish (peeled and finely shredded)

Batter : (Combined into batter)
- 250gm rice flour
- 3 tbsp tapioca flour
- 400ml water

Seasonings : (to taste - you can add or omit any of these seasonings)
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1.5 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp preserved cabbage powder (vegan cooking powder)
- 1/2 tsp five spice powder

- some cooking oil
Method :

1) Combine batter ingredients and mix well. Set aside.

2) Heat some oil and stir fry shredded daikon radish until soft. Add in seasoning to taste. Keep stir frying until mix well.

3) Reduce the heat to low and slowly pour in the batter and continue stirring until the mixture thickens.

4) Transfer the mixture into a greased steaming pan and steam at high heat for about 45 minutes or until cooked (you can test it with a skewer- if the skewer comes out clean then it's thoroughly cooked)

5) Allow the cake to cool completely before removing from the pan and cut into your desired size.

6) Pan fry the cake until crispy and golden brown on all sides. Serve it with your favorite chili sauce

Yummy to serve it warm

Crispy and crunchy on the outside

but soft and tender on the inside

Steamed Daikon Radish Cake萝卜糕 is my favorite and I can eat few slices in one go!!!

Try this hearty delightful treat and impress your family members and friends..... cheers

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Sorry to inform that for the time being, I have disabled comment box as I won't be able to return visit to my fellow bloggers who are kind enough to drop me a line or two. The comment box will be enabled when I am not so tied up with my work schedule. However, you may contact me by leaving your message or comment at SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL AND HEALTHY LIVING FACEBOOK. My sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused. Thanks for visiting my blog and have a nice day :)