Siopao

Ingredients:

2        teaspoons yeast                                   
4 or 4-1/2    cups flour
3        tablespoons shortening                       
3/4    cup sugar
1-1/4   cups warm water                                
1/4   teaspoon salt

How to make vegetarian siopao

• Soften yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar in lukewarm water.

• Set aside for from 10 to 15 minutes.

• Mix together sugar, salt, and oil in a bowl.

• Add softened yeast. Add half of the flour and mix well.

• Add remaining flour and continue mixing till well blended; knead on floured board until smooth.

• Shape the dough into a ball and place in a greased bowl.

• Grease surface of dough. Let rise for from 30 to 40 minutes in a warm place.

• Punch down dough, divide it into desired sizes, form into balls and let them rise  again for 30 minutes.

• Flatten dough pieces. Spoon prepared gluten filling, sweet ground munggo or any desired filling into the center.

• Seal dough and shape into small balls.

• Place a piece of clean paper at the bottom of the balls to prevent them from sticking to the steamer.

• Let the balls rise for from 1 to 1-1/2 hours or until double in bulk.

• Steam for from 10 to 15 minutes. (Period of steaming depends on the size.)

• Yield: 1 dozen.