Keke Pua'a (American Samoa)
This recipe is from week six of my food blog, "Travel by Stove." I am attempting to cook one meal from every country on Earth, and American Samoa is my sixth stop. Kek pua'a is a Samoan version of bao, which you can sometimes find in Chinese restaurants. It is traditionally served with a pork filling.
INGREDIENTS
NutritionFor the filling
- 2small pork chops, minced
- 1⁄2one onion
- 3
- 2tablespoons soy sauce
For the dough
- 1tablespoon yeast
- 2tablespoons warm water
- 1 1⁄2teaspoons sugar
- 1⁄4cup milk
- 2tablespoons melted butter
- 2tablespoons sugar
- 1⁄4teaspoon salt
- 1
- 1 3⁄4cups all-purpose flour
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DIRECTIONS
- Proof the yeast with the water and first measure of sugar until it is frothy. Then add it and the rest of the ingredients to your bread machine (or mix and knead by hand).
- Meanwhile, mince the pork and sauté in a little olive oil with the onions. Add the garlic and soy sauce towards the end of cooking. Set aside and let cool.
- Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and punch down. Divide into 8 parts and flatten each one with the palm of your hand.
- Spoon a little bit of the filling into the center of each circle, then pull up the edges of the dough and twist to seal. Make sure the filling is completely contained by the dough. Repeat until you have eight little packets.
- Let the dough rise for another 45 minutes.
- Place the packets into a vegetable steamer and steam for 15 minutes (note: they puff up a lot, so you may need to do this in small batches).
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