I went to a Chinese American elementary faculty for awhile after I lived in San Francisco. It was a very long time in the past however I nonetheless have a deep appreciation for the tradition and I nonetheless bear in mind how a lot enjoyable it was to take journeys to China Town with my mother. Mooncakes are one of many many treats that I bear in mind fondly. Mooncakes are conventional Chinese pastries which are usually eaten throughout the Mid-Autumn Festival, a vacation celebrating the complete moon and harvest. These spherical or sq. truffles are stuffed with varied candy or savory fillings and are sometimes superbly embellished with intricate designs on the highest. Mooncakes are often shared amongst relations as an emblem of unity and togetherness throughout the pageant. I can’t wait to share with a tremendous recipe for Red Bean Mooncakes- my favourite!
The mother-daughter duo Hsiao-Ching Chou and Meilee Riddle are releasing a model new e-book on December Third- “Feasts of Good Fortune.” This e-book takes readers on a journey by means of the wealthy tapestry of Chinese time-honored celebrations. Chou and Riddle present uncomplicated recipes, heartfelt anecdotes, and beautiful images, that invite readers to study and expertise these festivals. They present menus to assist your put together for conventional occasions from Mid-Autumn Festival to Lunar New Year. I’m grateful to have acquired permission to share a preview recipe for mooncakes from their new e-book with you right here. Feasts of Good Fortune is now obtainable for pre-order by means of my affiliate Amazon link.
When is Mid-Autumn Festival? It might be celebrated Tuesday, September 17, 2024. But don’t fear, you’ll be able to get pleasure from mooncakes anytime and I received’t inform!
FLAKY RED BEAN MOONCAKES 酥皮紅豆月餅
Recipe and Photo CREDITS: “Feasts of Good Fortune: 75 Recipes for a Year of Chinese American Celebrations, from Lunar New Year to Mid-Autumn Festival and Beyond”, by Hsiao-Ching ChouOn Tour and Meilee Chou Riddle. Published by Sasquatch Books, Dec 03, 2024.
This model of mooncake has a flaky crust and is not like the extra generally acknowledged Cantonese-style mooncakes. You can fill it with candy or savory components. Red bean paste is our go-to taste—with out inclusions, corresponding to egg yolk. We wish to hold it easy. You can have leftover pink bean paste that you should utilize for different functions. To add a design to the highest of the mooncakes, you’ll want a cotton swab or rounded make-up applicator swab or a food-safe fine-tipped paintbrush.
MAKES 16 TO 18 MOONCAKES
Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour, divided, plus extra for dusting
- 8 tablespoons very chilly unsalted butter, minimize into 1⁄2 inch cube
- 6 tablespoons chilly water, divided
- 8 tablespoons chilly vegetable shortening
- 1 package deal (about 10 ounces) pink bean paste, chilled
- 1 to 2 drops pink meals dye, combined with a drop of water (non-obligatory)
Use my affiliate Amazon hyperlink to order the red bean paste or discover it at an Asian retailer close to you.
How To Make Mooncakes
First Make Mooncake Dough
■ In a medium bowl, mix 1 cup of the flour with the butter. Using a pastry cutter or your palms, work the butter into the flour, ensuring the butter will get evenly distributed. If you’re utilizing your palms, you’ll be able to rub the flour-coated items of butter between your fingers to mash them a bit. But don’t go overboard, since you need the butter to remain chilly. Stir in 3 tablespoons of the water, then collect the combination collectively to type a ball. Knead it a couple of occasions to clean it out. Set apart.
■ In one other bowl, mix the remaining 1 cup flour with the vegetable shortening. Similar to the butter dough, use a pastry cutter or your palms to work the shortening into the flour till there aren’t any giant chunks of shortening left. Stir within the remaining 3 tablespoons water, then collect the combination collectively to type a ball. Knead a couple of occasions to clean it out. Roll this dough right into a rope that’s about 12 inches lengthy. Set apart.
■ Dust your work floor with flour. Roll out the butter dough till you have got a rectangle that’s about 12 by 6 inches. Place the rope of shortening dough throughout the center of the rectangle, and wrap the butter dough across the shortening dough. Seal the seam and clean it out by rolling the tube of dough a couple of occasions till you get a rope that’s about 20 inches lengthy. Cut the dough into sixteen items. Roll each bit right into a ball. Place on a small baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and place within the fridge to sit back for at the very least half-hour.
■ Preheat the oven to 375 levels F.
Assemble Mooncakes
■ Press a chunk of dough along with your fingers or use a small rolling pin to roll out the dough to about 2 1⁄4 inches in diameter. Add about 1 teaspoon of pink bean paste. If you get any in your fingers, make sure to wipe them clear earlier than the following step. Gather the dough across the filling and seal the seam. It received’t look fairly, however that’s okay. Roll between your palms to clean out the seam. Press gently between your palms to create a puck-like form. Set on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Press down gently to flatten the puck as wanted. Repeat with the remaining dough.
■ If you wish to beautify the mooncakes, dip a cotton swab within the food-safe pink dye combination and dab a design on the tops of the mooncakes. It may very well be so simple as a couple of dots or a smiley face or one thing extra elaborate. Usually, the designs on the mooncakes are ornamental or they denote the filling.
■ Bake the mooncakes for half-hour, or till the underside of the pastry is flippantly browned. Let cool for a couple of minutes earlier than making an attempt to eat one. The filling might be highly regarded.
If you get pleasure from this recipe, don’t overlook to take a look at the Feasts of Good Fortune cookbook. They do an excellent job at making conventional Chinese recipes accessible. I like the way you don’t want mooncake molds for this mooncake recipe.
How To Serve Moon Cakes:
Mooncakes are often served at room temperature, and a few individuals additionally favor to barely heat or chill them relying on the kind of filling. They are historically served with Chinese tea, corresponding to jasmine, oolong, or pu-erh tea (a must-try, right here is my affiliate link), which helps steadiness the sweetness of the filling. The tea enhances the expertise and aids in digestion. Since mooncakes are wealthy and flavorful, might be minimize into wedges for sharing. They are usually loved slowly, with every chunk savored throughout dialog with household or buddies.
Printable Mooncakes Recipe Card
Easy Red Bean Mooncake Recipe
A scrumptious,easy-to-make pink bean mooncake recipe. Perfect for Mid-Autumn Festival.
Notes
Recipe and Photo CREDITS:“Feasts of Good Fortune:75 Recipes for a Year of Chinese American Celebrations,from Lunar New Year to Mid-Autumn Festival and Beyond”,by Hsiao-Ching ChouOn Tour and Meilee Chou Riddle.
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour,divided,plus extra for dusting
- 8 tablespoons very chilly unsalted butter,minimize into 1⁄2 inch cube
- 6 tablespoons chilly water,divided
- 8 tablespoons chilly vegetable shortening
- 1 package deal (about 10 ounces) pink bean paste,chilled
- 1 to 2 drops pink meals dye,combined with a drop of water (non-obligatory)
Instructions
- In a medium bowl,mix 1 cup of the flour with the butter. Using a pastry cutter or your palms,work the butter into the flour,ensuring the butter will get evenly distributed. If you’re utilizing your palms,you’ll be able to rub the flour-coated items of butter between your fingers to mash them a bit. But don’t go overboard,since you need the butter to remain chilly. Stir in 3 tablespoons of the water,then collect the combination collectively to type a ball. Knead it a couple of occasions to clean it out. Set apart.
- In one other bowl,mix the remaining 1 cup flour with the vegetable shortening. Similar to the butter dough,use a pastry cutter or your palms to work the shortening into the flour till there aren’t any giant chunks of shortening left. Stir within the remaining 3 tablespoons water,then collect the combination collectively to type a ball. Knead a couple of occasions to clean it out. Roll this dough right into a rope that’s about 12 inches lengthy. Set apart.
- Dust your work floor with flour. Roll out the butter dough till you have got a rectangle that’s about 12 by 6 inches. Place the rope of shortening dough throughout the center of the rectangle,and wrap the butter dough across the shortening dough. Seal the seam and clean it out by rolling the tube of dough a couple of occasions till you get a rope that’s about 20 inches lengthy. Cut the dough into sixteen items. Roll each bit right into a ball. Place on a small baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and place within the fridge.
- Chill for at the very least half-hour.
- Preheat the oven to 375 levels F.
- Press a chunk of dough along with your fingers or use a small rolling pin to roll out the dough to about 2 1⁄4 inches in diameter. Add about 1 teaspoon of pink bean paste. If you get any in your fingers,make sure to wipe them clear earlier than the following step. Gather the dough across the filling and seal the seam. It received’t look fairly,however that’s okay. Roll between your palms to clean out the seam. Press gently between your palms to create a puck-like form. Set on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Press down gently to flatten the puck as wanted. Repeat with the remaining dough.
- If you wish to beautify the mooncakes,dip a cotton swab within the food-safe pink dye combination and dab a design on the tops of the mooncakes.
- Bake the mooncakes for half-hour,or till the underside of the pastry is flippantly browned. Let cool for a a number of minutes earlier than consuming.
© 2024 Copyright Family Focus Blog
Conclusion
Whether you’re celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival or simply inquisitive about new meals,making an attempt mooncakes generally is a pleasant and significant expertise. Mooncakes symbolize unity,completeness,and concord,significantly when shared with family members. The spherical form represents the complete moon,which is central to the pageant’s themes of wholeness and familial bonds. I hope you get pleasure from this mooncake recipe and please be at liberty to share your images with us on social media @familyfocusblog!
Related Posts:
Chinese New Year Paper Lantern Craft
My Favorite Ancient Chinese Proverbs
Chinese Dumplings Recipe
