Chestnut Flour Wowotou (Steamed Bread)
A traditional Chinese steamed bread made with chestnut flour and cornmeal, featuring a sweet, nutty flavor and a signature cone shape.
Story
Wowotou is a beloved traditional Chinese steamed bread that traces its roots back to the Qing Dynasty. This rustic dish gets a delightful upgrade with the addition of chestnut flour, which imparts a naturally sweet, earthy richness to the dense and chewy dough. Traditionally shaped into a small, hollow cone to ensure it steams evenly throughout, it was once a humble staple of peasant diets but eventually charmed its way onto the dining tables of emperors and commoners alike.
Ingredients
Cornmeal
Self-rising flour
Chestnuts
Water
Sugar
Instructions
1
Step 1
Prepare the ingredients.
2
Step 2
Steam the raw chestnuts in a pot until cooked.
3
Step 3
Finely chop the cooked chestnuts into a paste, and set aside the cornmeal and flour.
4
Step 4
Mix the cornmeal, flour, and chestnut paste together.
5
Step 5
Add white sugar and warm water, and mix well with chopsticks.
6
Step 6
Knead the dough until smooth and no longer sticky. Place it in a bowl, cover, and let it rest for 20 minutes.
7
Step 7
Take a 25g dough portion, place it over a finger, and shape it into a mini wowotou (steamed cornbread bun).
8
Step 8
Add cold water to the pot, line the steamer plate with a damp cloth, and place the small wowotou on top.
9
Step 9
Steam for 20 minutes and it is ready.
