Puto Pao

Puto Pao. Puto is another popular Pinoy native delicacy. The original recipe of our grandparents call for cooked rice for the batter and using yeast for the leavening process which take several hours. Using all purpose flour and baking powder the long process is now eliminated. Puto can now be made instantly. The puto has evolved to countless versions they now come in various sizes, colors, flavors, toppings and are even made with filling. Puto pao is a cross of the Chinese steamed bun called siopao and puto. Here is my version of puto pao filled with ground pork and quail egg cooked asado style.

See other Kakanin Merienda recipes: 

Turon na Saging
Turon, Fried Banana Roll 
Turon Tikoy and Fried Tikoy 
Cheesy Maruya, Fried Banana with Cheese 
Special Vigan Royal Bibingka 
Vigan Royal Bibingka Recipe 
Baked Biko Sapin Sapin Style 
Biko na Pirurutong 
Pirurutong na Biko with Coco Jam, Suman na Pirurutong 
Champorado with Pinipig and Pandan Milk 
Siopao Asado 
Puto Bumbong 
Pichi Pichi 
Palitaw, Dila-Dila 
Puto Special 
Baked Leche Flan 

Ingredients: (To make 50 puto pao.)

For the filling
1/2 kilo ground pork
25 boiled quail egg
1/2 head garlic, chopped
1 cup pineapple juice
1/2 cup red wine
1 pc. star anise
1/2 cup cornstarch
1 tbsp. sugar
cooking oil
salt

For the batter
4 cups all purpose flour
4 tbsp. powdered milk
2 1/2 tbsp. baking powder
1 1/2 cups white sugar
3 cups water
1/4 cup butter

For the toppings
1/4 cheddar cheese
2 salted eggs

Cooking procedure:

For the filling: In a sauce pan stir fry garlic until fragrant, add in the ground pork and stir cook for 3 to 3 minutes. Add in red wine and stir cook for another 2 to 3 minutes. Now add in pineapple juice, sugar, star anise and 1 cup of water, bring to a boil and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes or until the liquid is reduce to half. Thicken with cornstarch diluted in 1/4 cup of water. Add in the boiled egg and stir cook for another 1 to 2 minutes. Season with salt to taste. Remove from pan and set aside.

For the batter and steaming: In a big bowl, sift all purpose flour, milk powder, baking powder and sugar. Slowly whisk and blend in water. Now whisk in butter until fully blended. Fill the cupcake moulds to about 1/4 full with the batter. Put in the middle of the mould half quail egg and 1 tsp. of the filling then fill in more batter to nearly full. Top with strips of cheese and salted egg, keep aside. Repeat the process for the rest of the cupcake moulds. Arrange filled moulds in a steamer, place cheesecloth in between each tray to avoid water drips. Pour enough water and 1 tbsp. of vinegar on the steamer and steam for 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from tray and mould. Serve warm.