Thursday, July 12, 2012

TWISTED PURPLE SWEET POTATO BUNS [GDM]

How these buns came about?.  I prepared the gelatinized dough [GDM] with the intention to bake buns using sardine filling.  Then I noticed I had some mashed sweet potato left and a savoury split green bean paste [recipe here] which I prepared to use as filling for baking purple sweet potato buns.  Honestly, I prefer having loaf bread for breakfast rather than buns and I have no intention to bake more buns in a week.  So, what I did was to use the gelatinized dough ingredients, add in the mashed sweet potato and created these buns which turned out to be so soft, moist and fluffy.  I didn't glaze them hoping that these buns will maintain its natural purplish colour.
I was surprised too that the savoury split green bean paste [recipe here] gave these buns a totally new flavour [sought of like east meets west].   As I was a bit lazy to shape the buns, I just baked them in a baking tray [top photo].  Of course you can shape it into any shapes you like [round, oval, cresent etc. it's okay].   I didn't finish baking all the buns at one time.  As I said I was a bit tired after my morning exercise, so I kept the remaining dough in a plastic bag [tied up] and refrigerate.   Maybe I'll finish my baking the next day.... 
As the buns were so yummy, there wasn't any left the next day.  Greatly motivated with the result of the first batch, I baked the rest of the buns [see second and third photos below].  They were as lovely and yummy!!!..  Noticed the quantity?  I was able to share with my neighbours, gave some to my mum and some of course for ourselves...
Ingredients for Gelatinized Dough
100 gm bread flour
70 ml hot boiling water
  • Mix together into a rough dough using a pair of chopstick.  Cover dough with cling film [I used a plastic airtight container] and leave dough to cool in the fridge for 1 hour and up to 48 hours [2 days].
To Prepare Basic Sweet Bread Dough
1 portion of the gelatinized dough
300 gm bread flour
100 gm plain flour
80 gm castor sugar
20 gm milk powder [I used 1 tbsp skimmed milk powder]
1 tbsp yeast
1/2 tsp salt
1 cold egg
200 gm mashed purple sweet potato
80-100 ml cold water [I used about 90 ml]
60 gm cold butter - cubed [I used 50 gm]
egg glaze [I used milk] - I omit
  1. Mix sweet bread dough ingredients [except butter] with gelatinized dough in a mixer with dough hook.  Knead on medium speed for about 10 minutes till soft and smooth [the dough is quite wet but it is alright] then add in butter. 
  2. Continue to knead for another 10 - 15 minutes until dough is soft, smooth and elastic [the dough should be ready if it does not stick to the fingers when touch].  Shape into a round ball with floured hands, cover and leave to rest for 15 minutes or until double in size [#].
  3. Punch down dough.  Divide dough into 3 equal portions [I just estimate].
  4. Shape each portion into a round ball, then take a portion, roll on a floured board into rectangular shape about 1/2 cm thickness.  Spread the fillings all over the dough, roll up tightly like swiss roll.  Pinch the seam to seal the edges well.   Divide the roll up dough into 9 equal portions by twisting it.  Place the twisted side up on a round baking tray lined with greased proof paper. 
  5. Leave to rise for 45 minutes or until double in size in the oven.  Remove them from the oven  after 45 minutes before preheating oven.  
  6. Bake in preheated oven at  200 degrees C [middle shelf] for 12 - 15 minutes.     Remove to cool on rack immediately before storing.
These pictures were all the buns which I made from this portion of ingredients using the gelatinized  dough method.
Here are the pictures that showed how I shaped some of these buns.
Braided buns 
Rolled slit buns 

These were the buns I baked the next day with the same dough, same filling but different shapes.  For the round buns, divide dough into equal portion [about 30-40gm each], add filling and roll into round balls, wet it and roll on toasted sesame seeds.  Place them on paper casings and baked in preheated oven at 200 degrees C for 12 minutes on middle shelf.
I'm sharing this post via  BYOB - Bake Your Own Bread at Girlichef

14 comments:

  1. I like the colour of your buns. Lovely texture and shapes. Thanks for the Shaping pictures. Have a nice day!

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  2. Hi,
    Had try your several recipe of bread, yesterday also make a purple sweet potatoes loaf but put in chocalte chips & raisin coz my son like.And another top with some butter & sugar. It's very soft & nice recipe.Thanks.Is it direct method for bread/ bun will not turn out so soft?Mostly i make by direct method it will fail,i mean it turn out not soft and even like stone.

    Yvonne Yeo

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  3. How I wish I were your neighbour, Kimmy!

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  4. I had never heard of the gelatinized dough method before - I am so intrigued! Plus, you make these sound so wonderful, that I'm just going to have to try it. The color is so pretty, I hope I can locate some purple sweet potatoes. Thanks so much for sharing this w/ BYOB =)

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  5. Cheah, that's also my wish cos' we share the same passions [bake and cook].

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  6. Hi Vivian, Japanese purple sweet potatoes are suitable for this bun. The texture is smooth and fine when mashed.

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  7. Hi Yvonne,glad your attempts turned out well. Once you know the very basics of bread making you can use all your creative skills to come up with all kinds of bread that suits you. I did fail too sometimes when using direct method. My bread recipes are more healthy versions [less sugar, salt and fats]. I omit brushing baked buns with butter which makes the buns even softer.

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  8. Hi Heather, thanks for you comments. It's worth giving it a try. I've used this dough without adding sweet potatoes, it does yield very soft and moist buns.

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  9. Your photos are so helpful for all of your great shapes, but the color! My youngest daughter would live on bread and jam alone for every meal if I let her ... but this color bread? She would be thrilled. Thank you for sharing this with BYOB.

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  10. Hi Michelle, thanks for your comment.This is natural colouring. If you're interested in other natural coloured breads [brown, orange,green, yellow etc]just check out my other posts.

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  11. Hi, your buns look so beautiful. Thanks for showing how to roll the buns, I needed a tutorial on that.

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  12. Hi Mich, thanks for your compliment. I don't mind sharing ideas.

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  13. Hi Kimmy, how much is 1 portion of gelatinized dough?
    How many buns can make from this recipe? I like to make larger batch. The buns look so lovely and delicious.

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  14. Hi Lynn, the 1 portion is that quantity for gelatinized dough stated above. Use all of it. The recipe can make many buns. From the photos you should be able to get the exact number but again this depends on how big you make the individual buns. These buns with the filling is good [savoury sweet].

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