Lara Buchar, a food writer, brings to light a delightful recipe that many may overlook but should definitely try in her piece “A Recipe to Revisit.” Fondly reminiscing about her childhood visits to a Chinese bakery in Hamilton, where the aroma of butter and yeasted dough filled the air, Lara recalls her favorite treats like fluffy pineapple buns and soft coconut buns. She never imagined that these bakery delights could be recreated at home until she stumbled upon Kristina Cho’s cookbook, “Mooncakes and Milk Bread.”
Cho’s cookbook, a pioneer in English-language Chinese bakery recipes, unveils the secret behind many Chinese bakery favorites: the Mother of All Milk Bread recipe. This base recipe forms the foundation for a variety of sweet and savory creations found in Chinese bakeries, similar to how a French patisserie relies on a single dough for various pastries.
What sets milk bread apart is the use of tangzhong, a roux made from a mixture of flour and milk cooked over low heat. According to Cho, this process traps moisture in the bread, resulting in a soft and delightful texture. Once mastered, the Mother of All Milk Bread recipe can be used to create traditional loaves, rolls, and bakery favorites like pineapple buns.
Whether baking dinner rolls or pineapple buns, Lara finds solace in recreating these childhood flavors. The sweet, milky taste and soft texture of the bread evoke memories of the Hamilton bakery, where every delightful treat was within reach.
The process of making the Mother of All Milk Bread involves creating a tangzhong paste, mixing the dough, proofing, shaping, and baking the buns to perfection. The final result is a batch of fluffy and delectable milk bread buns that capture the essence of Chinese bakery treats.
This recipe offers a nostalgic experience for those craving a taste of home or wanting to explore the world of Chinese bakery-style baking. With detailed instructions and handy tips, anyone can recreate these beloved treats in their own kitchen.
Inspired by Lara’s journey of rediscovery through baking, readers can embark on their own culinary adventure by trying out the Mother of All Milk Bread recipe and savoring the taste of homemade Chinese bakery delights.