Velvet Black Superfood Steamed Buns

If you’re looking for a baking project that is as visually stunning as it is nourishing, you have come to the right place. These beautiful, dark-hued steamed buns are a true delight, offering a unique twist on a traditional favorite. Their incredible color comes not from any food dye, but from a powerful blend of five “black” superfoods, infusing each bite with wholesome goodness. While the recipe might seem advanced at first glance, it’s surprisingly straightforward and uses a fascinating one-proof method that saves time. These buns are steamed, not baked, resulting in an incredibly soft, moist, and fluffy texture unlike anything from a conventional oven. Ready in about an hour, they have a subtle, earthy, and nutty flavor that is comforting and satisfying. Get ready to impress yourself and your friends with these gorgeous and healthy treats!

Before you begin, let’s gather our ingredients. The “five blacks” are the heart of this recipe, but don’t worry if you can’t find them all. The beauty of this recipe is its flexibility. The combination below is traditional, but feel free to mix and match based on what’s available at your local health food store or Asian market.

Ingredients:

• For the Superfood Paste:

  • 15g Black Goji Berries (can be substituted with dried blueberries or black currants)
  • 15g Dried Black Beans
  • 15g Black Rice (glutinous or regular)
  • 15g Dried Black Mulberries
  • 15g Black Sesame Seeds (toasted for more flavor, but raw is fine)
  • 320g Cold Water

• For the Dough:

  • 350g of the prepared Superfood Paste (from the ingredients above)
  • 500g All-Purpose Flour
  • 5g Active Dry Yeast
  • 10g Lard (optional, but adds incredible softness. You can substitute with softened unsalted butter, coconut oil, or vegetable shortening for a vegetarian option)

Now that you have everything ready, let’s get to the fun part—making the dough and shaping these wonderful buns. This recipe uses a special technique where you shape the dough right after kneading and let it proof only once in its final form. This simplifies the process and gives a fantastic result.

Instructions:

1. Gather your five black ingredients: black goji berries, black beans, black rice, black mulberries, and black sesame seeds.
2. Rinse the ingredients thoroughly and place them in a high-speed blender with 320g of cold water. Blend until you have a smooth, dark puree.
3. This is your beautiful, nutrient-rich superfood paste.
4. Carefully measure out exactly 350g of the paste into a large mixing bowl. There might be a little extra, which you can discard or add to a smoothie.
5. Sprinkle the 5g of yeast over the paste and stir gently to combine.
6. Add the 500g of all-purpose flour and the 10g of lard (or your chosen substitute). Don’t worry if you’re skipping the fat; they will still be delicious.
7. Using a spatula or chopsticks, stir everything together until you have a shaggy dough with no dry flour visible.
8. Turn the mixture out onto a clean surface and knead with your hands for 8-10 minutes until it forms a smooth, elastic dough. If using a stand mixer, use the dough hook and mix on low for 5-7 minutes.
9. This is the key step: do not let the dough rise! Immediately after kneading, fold the dough over itself a few times, then roll it smooth and shape it into a long, even log. Cut the log into equal-sized pieces.
10. Take each piece and gently roll it between your palms or on the counter to form a smooth, round ball.
11. Arrange the shaped buns in a steamer basket lined with parchment paper, making sure to leave space between them as they will expand. This is their one and only proofing time. Let them rest in a warm place for about 40 minutes, or until they have nearly doubled in size.
12. You’ll know they are ready when they feel light and airy. Gently press one with your fingertip; the indentation should spring back slowly.
13. Place the steamer into a pot with cold water at the bottom. Turn the heat to high. Once the water boils and steam rises, steam the buns for 12 minutes. Then, turn off the heat and let them sit in the closed steamer for 3 more minutes. This crucial rest period prevents them from wrinkling when you open the lid.
14. Open the lid, and you’ll be greeted by perfectly steamed, glossy buns!
15. Here they are, ready to be enjoyed.

Taking the first bite of these warm, fluffy buns is a truly rewarding experience. They are incredibly light, with a wonderfully tender crumb that pulls apart beautifully. The flavor is unique and sophisticated—it’s not sweet in a sugary way, but carries a deep, earthy richness from the grains and seeds, with just a hint of berry from the goji and mulberries. They are fantastic on their own for a healthy breakfast or an afternoon snack with tea. Don’t be intimidated by steaming; this recipe is a forgiving and fantastic introduction. I encourage you to give it a shot and discover the joy of making these nourishing and delicious buns from scratch. I’d love to hear how yours turn out, so please share your experience in the comments below