Slightly Formal French Style Anpan
- 150 grams all-purpose flour (lys d'or brand)
- 6 grams sugar
- 3 grams salt
- 10 grams black sesame seeds
- 1 1/2 grams dry yeast
- 96 grams water
- 6 grams sunflower oil (olive oil is okay too) For the Filling:
- 120 grams chunky an bean paste
- 6 salt-preserved sakura blossoms (optional)
- For the sakura blossoms, soak in water to draw out the saltiness.
- Then dry well with paper towels.
- In a kneading bowl add the ingredients in and mix well.
- Then add in the yeast and mix again.
- Mix the water and oil together with a spatula and once mixed, add it into the middle of the dough in the kneading bowl.
- Flatten the dough with your fist and then knead the dough rapidly by moving your fist around the bowl.
- When the dough becomes elastic and the bowl is now shiny again, (knead for about 5 minutes) form the dough into a ball and let it rest in a warm place for 2~30 minutes.
- For the first rising, gently punch down the dough and form it into a nice ball.
- Next, let the dough triple in size and be careful that the dough doesn't dry out.
- Once it looks like this, it's done.
- Transfer the dough to a flour dusted surface, divide the dough into 6 portions (one should be 43 g), and gently form it into balls.
- Be careful again not to let it dry out and then let them rest for 20 minutes.
- While the dough is resting, take the anko paste and divide it into sixths.
- Gently form it into balls.
- Coat your baking tray gently with oil.
- Place the dough on top of a flat surface with the seam facing upwards.
- Gently roll the dough out by pushing down with the palm of your hand.
- Place the ball of anko paste in the center and then use both of your palms in a circular motion to roll the dough up.
- Pinch the seam and close it tightly.
- Place the dough seam down in the muffin tray.
- Push down with your finger to bring more of the dough into contact with the tray.
- Have the dough rise a second time being careful not to let it dry out.
- Find a good time to preheat your oven to 200C.
- I think it's a good idea to have your pan heat up as well with the oven.
- It should rise to about this amount!
- It if rises to the top of the tray, that's fine too.
- This is what it looks like from the side.
- Place the sakura blossoms on top!
- Place a sheet of parchment paper over the tray...
- Place the tray in the oven and then place another tray on top like so.
- Bake for 14 minutes at 200C.
- The amount of time needed to bake can differ per oven, so keep an eye on them and adjust as you see necessary.
- They should come out looking like this.
- The color isn't very bright, but to get that you would have to bake at a lower temperature.
- The inside looks like this.
- It's a bit thin as dough but it's fluffy.
- Once they cool, store them in a resealable plastic bag
- An update on the bread rising steps.
- Do the first rising at 16C in a torobako (styrofoam box used for fish) for 3 hours and 30 minutes.
- For the second rising, do it for 10 minutes at 35C and then let it sit in the residual heat for 20 minutes.
- About the 3 1/2 hour rising.
- This gives it a chance to chill fully.
- Well...
- I guess it really is just because I prefer to let the dough rise slowly, but do as you please.
flour, sugar, salt, black sesame seeds, yeast, water, sunflower oil, salt
Taken from cookpad.com/us/recipes/302339-slightly-formal-%E2%9C%BF-french-style-anpan (may not work)