Siopao Making

Siopao business is mushrooming everywhere because it only require a little capital to start this business. However, the most important factor in this business is the knowledge in siopao making.

Here are some expert's tips to serve as your guide in this business:

1. Make sure your products are always fresh. Customers want their siopao fresh and hot when served.
2. Produce only what you can sell in a day. Siopao is perishable, so it's a good idea to make only what you can sell.
3. Be flexible. Know what your market wants. It's important to come up with products that will suit the market.
4. Be consistent. Be careful with your mixing and preparations to produce consistently clean, nutritious , and delicious siopao.
5. Be careful with blending. The ingredients that you put into your siopao should blend very well with the dough. If not, your siopao will spoil easily.
6. Handle your products with care. Steam your siopao carefully so the dough does not get too soggy or too dry. You must check on them every time.

To make the dough:

• 4 1/2 cups flour
• 1 1/4 cups warm water
• 3 tbsp. oil
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 tbsp. oil
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 2 tsp. yeast

For the filling:

• 1/4 kilo pork or chicken
• 4 tbsp. soy sauce
• 1/2 cup cooked beans
• 1 tbsp. Flour dissolved in 1 tbsp. water
• garlic, onions for sautéing

Utensils:

• mixing bowl
• wide board for making dough
• square pieces of paper for each siopao

Procedure:

1. Dissolved the yeast and sugar in the warm water; set aside for 10-15 minutes.
2. Mix together sugar, salt, oil in the mixing bowl.
3. Add the dissolved yeast and half of the flour. Mix well.
4. Add more the remaining flour and mix well.
5. Knead the dough on the kneading board until smooth and fine.
6. Make a big ball from the dough and put in the bowl lined with oil. Apply oil also on the top of the dough.
7. Cover and let the dough rise within 30-40 minutes.
8. Flatten the dough, cut and make small balls. Let arise.
9. Flatten the balls, put 1 tbsp. filling in each and close. Put the ball on the square sheet of paper to keep it from sticking on the bottom of the pan.
10. Steam the balls for 10-15 minutes, depending on the size of the balls.

Filling:

1. Saute the garlic, onion, sliced pork or chicken.
2. Put in the beans, soy and a little water.
3. Before removing from the fire, pour in the dissolved flour for thickening. Stir well.