When the New Year or Spring Festival comes around, one of my favorite treats to prepare is Chinese fried Mantou. This dish is a staple in hot pot restaurants and is also a cherished tradition in our family during the holidays.
The golden Mantou is deep-fried to a perfect crisp, while the silver Mantou, a steamed version, remains soft with its pure white color. Both are often served with a drizzle of condensed milk, which adds a yummy taste that’s both comforting and sweet.
It’s a lovely way to celebrate, and the dish’s name, golden and silver Mantou, captures the essence of the holiday spirit. Whether you’re a regular reader or new to Chinese cuisine, this dish offers a delightful combination of textures and flavors, making it a lucky choice for any festive occasion.
What is mantou?
If you’re searching for a recipe that’s both amazing and easy to make, let me introduce you to fried mantou with condensed milk. Mantou are Chinese steamed buns that are known for being incredibly soft, fluffy, and almost pillowy in texture.
The basic ingredients—flour, yeast, and water—come together to create this delicious base. But in this recipe, we’re taking it a step further by making deep fried mantou. After they’re steamed, we fry them until they turn a beautiful golden color and then serve them hot with a drizzle of sweetened condensed milk.
I discovered this combination on TikTok, and after watching countless videos of people eating fried mantou, I had to try it myself. The crispiness of the exterior, the fluffiness inside, combined with the warmth and sweetness of the condensed milk, makes it a perfect snack or dessert.
Fried Mantou with Condensed Milk
Steps to Make the Perfect Fried Mantou
- Combine Ingredients: Start by mixing plain flour or all-purpose flour with a small amount of granulated sugar or caster sugar. This touch of sugar adds a subtle sweetness to the dough.
- Add Salt for Flavor: Don’t forget to add a pinch of salt to bring out the flavors in the dough.
- Activate the Yeast: Use instant yeast to ensure that the buns will rise perfectly, creating a light and airy texture.
- Incorporate Milk: Instead of using water, opt for whole milk. This not only adds richness but also helps the buns achieve a delightful warm and soft interior.
- Warm the Milk: Gently heat the milk until it’s just warm milk, not hot. You should be able to comfortably feel the warmth with your finger.
- Mix and Knead: Combine all the ingredients and knead the dough until it’s smooth and elastic.
- Let It Rise: Allow the dough to rest and rise until it doubles in size, preparing it for the frying stage.
This method ensures that your Fried Mantou will have the perfect balance of sweetness, flavors, and a rich, fluffy texture.
STEPS TO MAKE THE FRIED MANTOU:
Steps to Make the Fried Mantou
- Heat the corn oil in a pot over medium heat. This should take about 5-10 minutes. You’ll know it’s hot enough when you see bubbles form around a wooden chopstick or when the thermometer reads 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Gently lower the mantou into the oil and fry for around a minute until they turn a golden brown. The mantou will float on the oil, so you’ll need to push them down for an even fry.
- Once done, place the fried mantou on a paper towel to soak up the excess oil.
- If you want a sweet coating, mix some sugar and cinnamon together to make cinnamon sugar. While the mantou is still hot and has a bit of oil on the sides, coat and dip them in the cinnamon sugar.
- Serve the fried mantou with condensed milk in a small bowl for dipping and enjoy them while they’re crispy and warm.
Fried Mantou with Condensed Milk
Equipment
- Frying pan
- Spatula or chopsticks
- Strainer or kitchen paper towel
- Kitchen thermometer or chopsticks (to measure the temperature of the oil)
Ingredients
- 8 steamed buns , depending on the size of your serving plate.
- 1/2 cup condensed milk , for serving
- 4 cup vegetable oil , or more as needed
Instructions
- · Prepare the buns: Start by dividing your buns into two groups—one for steaming and the other for deep-frying.
- · Steam the first group: Steam one group of buns until they’re hot and soft, setting the stage for a tender contrast with the fried version.
- · Fry the second group: In a pot, heat up enough oil for about 7 minutes over medium heat. When the oil is medium hot, add the buns in batches to fry until they turn golden brown. Press them down gently as they float on the surface to ensure they cook evenly during the deep-frying process.
- · Transfer and filter: Once the buns are perfectly fried, transfer them out of the oil and carefully filter any extra oil to avoid a greasy texture.
- · Set up the serving plate: Pour some condensed milk into a small bowl and place it in the center of your serving plate. Arrange the steamed buns and fried buns around the dipping bowl.
- · Serve hot: Make sure to serve hot so that the steamed buns remain soft and the fried buns retain their crispiness. Enjoy the delightful combination of textures when dipped into the sweet condensed milk.
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