Across many Asian cultures (spanning China, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, and past), September’s full moon marks probably the most important days of the 12 months: the Mid-Autumn Competition.
“It’s proper earlier than the normal harvesting season and the date coincides with a full moon, making it an excellent time for gathering with family members to provide 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 completely different international locations and areas. As an example, Chou says that Cantonese-style mooncakes usually use a pastry crust and purple bean paste for a candy deal with. In Taiwan (from which Chou’s household hails), mooncake crusts are gentle, 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 buddies and kinfolk signifies togetherness.”
Forward, Chou shares her personal snow pores and skin mooncake recipe, which she says is a contemporary tackle the normal mooncake. The perks? “They’re less complicated to make at residence, making it simple to customise and get inventive 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. If you happen to comply with Chou’s recipe to a T, you’ll be able to anticipate a number of nutrient-specific advantages.
Her recipe contains 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} larger consumption of legumes could also be related to a decrease danger 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 entire 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, in case you’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 take pleasure in 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 may experiment with completely different fillings at residence, resembling a purple bean paste filling,” she shares. “Strive utilizing a bigger mildew to make mooncakes with additional 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, elective
- 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 steel steam rack inside a 14-inch or bigger wok. Add water to the wok till it’s just under 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 may 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 sometimes, 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 continually with a silicone spatula, about quarter-hour. The filling will slowly grow to be smoother and paste-like. At this level, flip the warmth all the way down to medium-low and proceed to stir till the paste turns into dough-like and now 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. Each ought to be 15 grams. Roll each 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 elements and whisk till the elements 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 (be mindful the time could differ 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 easy. Utilizing the palm of your arms, roll it out right into a log form, then reduce it into 12 parts. Weigh every portion on a kitchen scale. Each ought to be 20 grams. Roll each bit right into a ball, then set it apart, and canopy with plastic wrap.
- Add coloration to the pores and skin (elective): Sprinkle each 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 middle 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 middle 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.
- Flippantly mud the ball with the toasted candy rice flour and place it right into a 25-gram (smaller-sized) mooncake mildew, with the sleek 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. Elevate the mildew whereas pushing the deal with all the way down to launch the mooncake. Preserve 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.
You probably have leftovers, Chou says the assembled mooncakes will preserve for 2 to 3 days lined and saved within the fridge. “The wrapper ought to stay tender however will lose a few of its elasticity,” she notes. In the meantime, in case you have additional mung bean paste filling, it’s going to preserve for as much as three months frozen in an air-tight container.
