China Wotou (Steamed Cornbread Buns)
Wotou is steamed Chinese cornbread. When Empress Cixi fled from Beijing in 1900 to escape the Battle of Peking during China’s Boxer Rebellion, her hunger was satiated with a gift of humble conical-shaped corn buns. Upon returning to the palace, the empress elevated these peasant buns to royal status. Today, wotou has morphed into various steamed versions; a popular and healthy version comes sweetened with Chinese red dates, as in this recipe.
Recipe Servings: 4
Prep Time
5 minutes
+ 45 minutes resting
+ 45 minutes resting
Cook Time
20 minutes
Total Time
1 hour 10 minutes
Vegetarian
Vegan
Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Kosher
Halal
Ingredients
- 1 cup (150 g) cornmeal
- 1 cup (120 g) whole wheat flour
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp (5 ml) sugar
- 1 tsp (5 ml) dried yeast
- ½ cup (120 ml) milk
- ½ cup (90 g) chinese red dates
Directions
- Combine cornmeal, flour, egg, sugar, and yeast in a mixing bowl.
- Stir in milk gradually, stirring in just one direction, to form a paste.
- Knead mixture into a ball of dough, cover it with a damp cloth, and let rise for 45 minutes in a warm place.
- Divide dough into four equal portions, dot each with dates, and form each into a cone shape.
- Steam for 20 minutes.
- Let buns cool and serve.
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