Across many Asian cultures (spanning China, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, and past), September’s full moon marks some of the vital days of the yr: the Mid-Autumn Competition.
“It’s proper earlier than the standard harvesting season and the date coincides with a full moon, making it an excellent time for gathering with family members to present thanks, eat good meals, and admire the moon collectively,” says Cindy Chou, RDN, a dietitian, chef, and the founding father of The Sound of Cooking.
One such delicacy that’s integral to the festivities is the mooncake, which varies in type throughout totally different nations and areas. As an example, Chou says that Cantonese-style mooncakes typically use a pastry crust and purple bean paste for a candy deal with. In Taiwan (from which Chou’s household hails), mooncake crusts are mild, flaky, and akin to puff pastries.
However why does the moon—each within the sky and in your plate—maintain a lot significance? “In Chinese language and Taiwanese cultures, round objects like a full moon and spherical mooncakes symbolize unity,” Chou explains. “Due to this, gifting or sharing mooncakes with mates and kin signifies togetherness.”
Forward, Chou shares her personal snow pores and skin mooncake recipe, which she says is a contemporary tackle the standard mooncake. The perks? “They’re less complicated to make at dwelling, making it straightforward to customise and get artistic with the outer designs and fillings,” she shares. Whereas it’s a labor of affection, it’s loaded with palate-pleasing flavors plus a good dose of protein and fiber-rich veggies, besides.
Advantages of this snow pores and skin mooncake recipe
This no-bake mooncake recipe for the Mid-Autumn Competition was designed to be easy even for first-timers, in addition to nutritious and customizable. In the event you comply with Chou’s recipe to a T, you’ll be able to anticipate a number of nutrient-specific advantages.
Her recipe consists of mung beans, a legume that packs each protein and fiber (7 grams and seven.6 grams, respectively, per half cup). “Research have proven {that a} increased consumption of legumes could also be related to a decrease threat of coronary heart illness,” Chou explains. “Consuming legumes like mung beans may additionally have the potential to decrease LDL ldl cholesterol, although extra analysis is required.” The salted egg yolk additionally contributes to the overall protein depend. “[Each] not solely provides 2.8 grams of protein to every mooncake, but in addition a layer of savory taste that enhances the delicate sweetness so nicely,” she continues.
Final however not least, if you happen to’re lucky sufficient to have the ability to make and/or share these high-protein snow pores and skin mooncakes with household or different individuals you’re keen on, you’ll be primed to get pleasure from extra perks resembling:
P.S. If you wish to put your personal spin on this recipe, Chou invitations you to change issues as much as your liking. “You possibly can experiment with totally different fillings at dwelling, resembling a purple bean paste filling,” she shares. “Attempt utilizing a bigger mildew to make mooncakes with further filling for much more taste and added fiber.”
Excessive-protein snow pores and skin mooncake recipe
Yields 12 mooncakes (1 3/4 oz every)
Substances
For the filling:
3 ounces skinless dried mung beans, soaked in water for six hours or in a single day
2/3 cup water
2 Tbsp canola oil
35 grams sugar
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
12 salted duck egg yolks, defrosted
For the pores and skin/wrapper:
50 grams candy rice flour, divided
35 grams rice flour
25 grams corn starch
30 grams sugar
135 grams complete milk
15 grams sweetened condensed milk
20 grams canola oil
1/2 teaspoon matcha powder, non-compulsory
- Make the filling and toast candy rice flour: Drain and rinse the soaked mung beans, then switch to a small baking dish and add the water.
- To steam, place a metallic steam rack inside a 14-inch or bigger wok. Add water to the wok till it’s slightly below the highest of the steam rack. Then, place the baking dish with the mung beans and water on prime of the steam rack. Cowl the wok with a domed lid and switch the warmth on excessive till the water boils, then scale back the warmth to medium-low. Steam for 20 minutes and switch off the warmth. Alternatively, the mung beans will be simmered in a small 1.5-quart saucepan, lined.
- Whereas the mung beans steam, toast 15 grams of candy rice flour in a small skillet over low warmth, stirring often, for about 2 minutes. Put aside for dusting the mooncakes.
- Switch the steamed mung beans to a medium (11-inch) non-stick skillet. Prepare dinner over medium warmth to dry, stirring consistently with a silicone spatula, about quarter-hour. The filling will slowly develop into smoother and paste-like. At this level, flip the warmth right down to medium-low and proceed to stir till the paste turns into dough-like and not sticks to your spatula, about 20 extra minutes. Switch to an oblong baking dish, distribute evenly with a spatula, and rating the filling into 12 sq. parts. Cowl and permit to chill for 10 minutes.
- Put together the snow pores and skin wrapper dough whereas the filling cools.
- As soon as the filling is cooled to the contact, weigh every portion on a kitchen scale. Every one needs to be 15 grams. Roll every bit right into a ball, then put aside, and canopy.
- Make the snow pores and skin dough: In a microwave-safe medium mixing bowl, whisk the remaining 35 grams of candy rice flour, rice flour, corn starch, and sugar till completely mixed.
- Add the milk, condensed milk, and canola oil to the bowl of dry components and whisk till the components are nicely mixed.
- Cowl the bowl with a microwave-safe plate and microwave for about 2 minutes or till the dough turns into principally opaque and has a agency gel texture (take into account the time could fluctuate by microwave). Stir the dough with a spatula to permit for faster cooling.
- As soon as cooled to the contact, knead the dough till it’s clean. Utilizing the palm of your arms, roll it out right into a log form, then minimize it into 12 parts. Weigh every portion on a kitchen scale. Every one needs to be 20 grams. Roll every bit right into a ball, then set it apart, and canopy with plastic wrap.
- Add shade to the pores and skin (non-compulsory): Sprinkle every bit of dough with matcha powder, fold the dough, knead, and repeat till the colour is distributed evenly.
Assemble the mooncakes
- Begin by flattening a portion of the mung bean paste filling with the palm of your hand. Place one salted duck egg yolk within the heart and wrap the paste across the yolk. Gently roll it in between your palms to kind a ball. Repeat this step for 11 extra parts.
- Place a portion of the snow pores and skin dough on a flat floor and flatten it with the palm of your hand. Roll the dough out into 3-inch diameter wrappers, with the perimeters barely thinner than the middle.
- Place the filling within the heart of the wrapper and gently fold the outer edges of the wrapper over the ball. Gently push the perimeters so the wrapper sticks to the filling with out air pockets, then pinch the ends of the wrapper collectively to seal. Roll the mooncake right into a ball.
- Evenly mud the ball with the toasted candy rice flour and place it right into a 25-gram (smaller-sized) mooncake mildew, with the graceful facet going through the stamp plate. Place the mildew, opening face down, on a clear flat floor and gently press the spring-loaded deal with down. Raise the mildew whereas pushing the deal with right down to launch the mooncake. Hold it lined in a container.
- Repeat meeting steps above for the remaining mooncakes. If wanted, clear the molds in between use with a toothpick.
- Serve instantly together with your favourite tea or share them with family members as a present.
When you’ve got leftovers, Chou says the assembled mooncakes will hold for 2 to 3 days lined and saved within the fridge. “The wrapper ought to stay comfortable however will lose a few of its elasticity,” she notes. In the meantime, when you have further mung bean paste filling, it’s going to hold for as much as three months frozen in an air-tight container.
