PORK MOON CAKE RECIPES

Steps:

• To make the ginger water, add all the ingredients to a pot and bring to a simmer. Allow to simmer for 15 minutes. Then, strain through a mesh strainer, discard the solids, and allow to cool before using.
• To make the lard dough, combine the flour, salt and lard together until well mixed. Then add the ginger water a bit at a time, and kneed the dough until smooth and elastic.
• To make the cake dough, mix the flour with the lard, and mix until thoroughly combined.
• To make the filling, combine all the ingredients in a bowl, and mix well.
• Divide the two dough’s into ten equal parts each. Ten lard dough, and ten cake dough.
• Roll the lard dough pieces into ten circles, about 3-inches in diameter.
• Using your hands, make ten round balls out of the cake dough.
• Take one of the flattened circles of lard dough, and place in the palm of your hand.
• Place one of the round balls of cake dough in the middle and then carefully wrap the flattened lard dough around it. You should now have a nice big ball.
• Roll out the ball to about 5 to 6 inches in diameter.
• Fold it in half, to make a semi circle.
• Fold in half again to make a quarter circle.
• Fold the point of the quarter circle to the opposite side.
• Fold in two sides to the center.
• Pick up the dough and roll into a nice round ball, and then roll back out into a 5 or 6 inch flattened circle.
• Add one tenth of the filling to the middle of the dough, and wrap the dough around the filling. Gather all the edges together, and then pinch closed.
• Place the mooncake, seam side down on a lightly greased, or parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Repeat the process for the other mooncakes.
• Place a rack in the middle position, and preheat the oven to 375f (190c).
• Whisk the egg, and brush over the tops of the mooncakes.
• Bake for 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve immediately.
• Keep the faith, and keep cooking.

Steps:

• First, prepare the lotus seeds by soaking them in water for 6-8 hours. When they become soft, break each seed in half with your fingers. If you find sprouts between halves, remove them.
• Place soaked lotus seeds in a cooking pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil; then reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer for 2 hours, until the water becomes milky and the lotus seeds start falling apart.
• Transfer cooked lotus seeds and their liquid to a blender, and pulse until smooth and velvety. Then, transfer this mixture into a non-stick skillet and warm up over medium heat.
• Add the vegetable oil gradually one-third at a time, and stir constantly until absorbed. Then, add salt and caster sugar and stir until the sugar dissolves completely. If you prefer a saltier filling, increase the amount of salt. Keep stirring until the paste thickens and the liquid evaporates. The paste is ready when it reaches a dough-like texture. Transfer it to a plate and leave to cool.
• Meanwhile, prepare the mooncake dough. Put the dietary alkali in a large bowl and mix with 1/2 tsp water until dissolved. Add honey and groundnut oil and whisk until blended. Then, fold in the flour using a spatula until soft and sticky dough is formed.
• Transfer the dough to a large piece of plastic wrap, wrap it up and leave to rest at room temperature for 1-2 hours.
• Crack the salted eggs one by one into a small bowl. Gently fish out the egg yolk with a slotted spoon or a mesh spoon and transfer to a big bowl filled water to remove the remains of egg whites. Strain the yolks, gently dry with a paper towel, and arrange on a plate.
• Now, assemble the mooncakes. For a 50g (1.75 oz) mooncake, the total weight of filling (egg yolk + lotus seed paste) should be 35g (1.2 oz). For instance, for a 15g (0.5 oz) egg yolk, you will need 20g (0.7 oz) of lotus seed paste. First, measure the weight of each yolk on a kitchen scale. Then, add enough lotus seed paste, so the total weight is 35g (1.2 oz).
• Roll each portion of lotus seed paste into a ball, then press it in the palm of your hand to form a flat disc. Place a salted egg yolk in the middle, and gently gather the edges of the lotus seed paste using your thumb and index finger, so the paste envelopes the egg yolk. Roll into a ball and repeat with the remaining egg yolks and lotus seed paste portions.
• Now, divide the dough into 15g (0.5 oz) portions. The amount of dough from this recipe is enough for 20 mooncakes, so be precise. Arrange the portions of dough on a clean plate, take one, and cover the rest with plastic wrap.
• Lightly flour your hands. Roll one portion of dough into a ball, then press with the palm of your hand to get a flat disc. Place the filling ball in the middle and gently stretch the edges of the dough using your thumb and index finger, so the dough wraps the filling completely. Seal the edges on the top, so the seam is invisible and roll into a ball. Repeat with the remaining portions of dough and filling balls and lightly flour each mooncake-to-be.
• Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F. Line a baking tray with parchment or a silicone baking sheet.
• While the oven is heating up, shape the mooncakes using a mooncake press. Roll each mooncake into an elongated ball which fits the opening of your mooncake press. Gently place the mooncake into the press, and press down on a baking tray. Leave enough room between mooncakes. Place the baking tray in the oven and bake for 5 minutes.
• In the meantime, make the egg wash by whisking 1 egg yolk with 1 tbsp of egg white. After 5 minutes of baking, lightly brush each mooncake with some egg wash. Return the mooncakes to the oven and bake for another 15 minutes.
• Cool the mooncakes on a wire rack to a room temperature. Then, transfer the mooncakes into a food container and seal well. Let them stand for 1-2 days to become soft and moist, and then serve.