Dual colours Purple Sweet Potato Mantou or Bao 双色紫薯馒头-en

These dual colours of baozi or mantou was inspired from a TV food show. I always like to use purple sweet potato in baking or making baozi as the colour always look beautiful.

Too bad, i have no time to capture on how to make each of these cute character of baozi. But they are not difficult to make actually.

Porcupine or Hedgehog (what my little son claimed this ^_^)

First just shape them into oval shape with one end more sharp to look like mouth. Then using a sharp scissor to snip the top part. Use a toothpick to prick two holes and insert with red beans as for eyes. If you don't have red bean available, you can just prick two holes only.

As for piggy (some said it look like mice) pattern, it is almost like making piggy mooncake , refer here 

As for flower buns, cut purple dough and plain dough into thin and long stripes, mix them and twist together.

Dual colours Purple Sweet Potato Mantou or Bao双色紫薯馒头-en

Purple dough

60g mashed purple sweet potato ( steamed then mashed)

120g Pao Flour

5g vegetable shortening

30g caster sugar

1/2tsp double action baking powder

1/2tsp instant yeast

65g water

Plain dough

175g Pao Flour

5g vegetable shortening

30g caster sugar

1/2tsp double action baking powder

1/2tsp instant yeast

90g water

Method

1. To make purple dough. Mix all ingredients in a mixing bowl, slowly add in water and knead till smooth dough. Cover and set aside at warm place to proof for 15mins.
2. To make plain dough. Mix all ingredients in a mixing bowl, slowly add in water and knead till smooth dough. Cover and set aside at warm place to proof for 15mins.
3. Divide the dough into 40g each and shape to smooth ball. Shaping individual as per your preference. Set aside to proof for 30-45mins.
4. Steam over high flame for 15mins.