Steamed bread facts for kids
Steaming bread in Xi'an's Muslim Quarter
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| Type | Bread |
|---|---|
| Main ingredients | Wheat flour |
| Variations | Boston brown bread, mantou |
Steamed bread is a special kind of bread. Unlike most breads you know, it's cooked by steaming instead of baking in an oven. People all over the world enjoy steamed bread. It's a very important food in many cultures, especially in China and South Africa. One famous type is mantou from China, and another is ujeqe from South Africa.
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Steamed Bread Around the World
Steamed bread is a popular food in many countries. It's made in different ways and has various names depending on where you are. This type of bread is often a main part of meals, just like baked bread might be in other places.
Steamed Bread in China
In China, especially in the northern parts, mantou is a very important food. It's a staple food, meaning it's eaten almost every day. A lot of the flour produced in northern China, sometimes up to 70%, is used to make mantou. There are many different kinds of mantou today. You can find wholemeal mantou, which is made with whole wheat flour. There's also milk mantou, which has a richer taste, and sweet potato mantou, which adds a bit of sweetness. Another type of steamed bread found in northern China is called Wotou.
Steamed Bread in South Africa
Many groups in South Africa also make steamed bread. The Zulu people, for example, make a steamed bread called ujeqe. People can eat ujeqe on its own, or they might enjoy it with a warm bowl of tomato soup. Most South African steamed breads are made at home and eaten the same day. However, scientists and food experts are working on ways to make them in factories for everyone to buy. They are learning from how Chinese steamed bread is made in large amounts.
What is Ujeqe?
The South African steamed bread called ujeqe is unique because it steams in its own moisture. While all steamed breads use steam, ujeqe is specially sealed during cooking. This means it doesn't lose much water. Because of this, the bread's fibers hold onto a lot of moisture. This makes ujeqe very soft and moist. However, because it holds so much moisture, ujeqe can spoil quickly.
Ujeqe often has a distinct golden skin, which is a thin outer layer. The main ingredients for ujeqe are usually wheat flour, sugar, salt, yeast, and water. You don't need to add oil because the bread stays moist for days. This also makes ujeqe a good choice for people who want to eat less fat or calories. Sometimes, people add maize meal (corn flour) to the dough. This gives the bread a fuller, more interesting texture.
Steamed Bread in the United States
In the United States, one example of steamed bread is Boston brown bread. This bread is usually sweet and can be eaten as a dessert. It's a traditional food that shows how different cultures use steaming to create delicious breads.
