Free Food Recipes

Ingredients

• 450 g (1 lb) plain flour
• 225 g (1/2 lb) self-raising flour
• 500 ml (1 Pint) lukewarm water
• 4 ml (3/4 teaspoon) active dry yeast
• 15 ml (1 tablespoon) sugar

Makes 20

** Free Food Recipes **

Method:

1. Strew the yeast on the lukewarm water. Mix the plain and self-raising flour and sugar together thoroughly in a bowl.

2. Add the water gradually, and knead into a dough. Continue to knead on a board dusted with flour for 10 minutes, using extra flour if necessary to prevent the dough from sticking to the fingers or board.

3. Let the dough stand for 15 minutes, and roll it into a 50 cm (20 in) long roll. Cut, the roll into twenty discs. Form each disc into the shape of a haystack. Line the ‘haystacks’ in several rows, and leave them to rise for another 30 minutes.

4. Place the pieces of dough at least 1.25 cm (1/2in) apart on the tiers of a steamer and steam for 15 minutes, when the Man Tou should be ready to be eaten with savory dishes. They are particularly suitable for eating with rich meat and poultry dishes, to soak up the sauces and gravies.

Note: Man Tou is the Chinese bread which is as common a food in north China as rice. It is used in every home meal to accompany savory dishes-meat, poultry, fish and seafood-and to soak up gravy and sauces.