I have always considered myself quite a nice person. I like food of all shapes, flavours and colours. From every country and continent. I don’t discriminate, I am an equal opportunity eater. It’s only the doctors who say I’m intolerant. And certain foods who refuse to tolerate me. They certainly refuse to recognise and respect my right to eat them without major physical discomfort and distress.


Gluten and lactose are not my friends.


Despite the negative attitudes surrounding me from many of those I love best, (cakes, ice cream, hot toast) I decided to become a chef. Not always easy when you live in a bread and milk filled world. I like to think that this has helped me become a better person as I embrace my differences and refuse to let the gluten get me down. I believe InTolerance. I am the InTolerant Chef.

Food should not be about what you can’t eat, but what you can and what you enjoy eating. This blog is about my journey of cooking and eating and discovery. It’s not a definitive guide to allergy awareness nor do my intolerances make me an expert. Your body is your responsibility, not mine. I only know what works for me.


I can tell you this..... No glutens were harmed in the making of this website.

November 7, 2012

Steamed Coconut Buns




















I was going to post a whole other recipe today, but last night I just happened to catch an episode of Jamie's 15 minute Meals, by Mr Oliver himself and was captivated

I'm a big fan of Jamie Oliver, he is passionate about bringing real food to real people and teaching them the real skills to pass it on to others.Sadly something so often lacking today.




The meal Jamie made was a simple steamed chicken and veggie dish that looked lovely, but what caught my interest were the Coconut Buns that accompanied the meal.

2 ingredients, 10 minutes, and the promise of yumminesss, I just had to try this out for myself!



Steamed Coconut Buns

1 tin Coconut Milk
2 tins worth of Self Raising GF Flour



















Tip the contents of the coconut milk into the bowl of a food processor



















Measure out two tins of Self Raising Gluten free Flour



















Pop into the food processor as well, along with a pinch of sugar, and a good pinch of salt



















Whizz it around until it forms a soft slightly sticky dough



















Tip out onto the bench and lightly pull together into a ball



















Divvy up into smaller pieces. I made mine into 12, Jamie made 8 larger ones.
Pop them into cupcake papers, just to stop them sticking together, then place in a steamer



















Just to add a bit of extra pretty, I brushed my dough with water and sprinkled on some sesame seeds. This certainly wasn't necessary, but I think it was worth it anyway :)



















Steam the little buns for 8 to 12 minutes, depending on the size. The dough should be nice and springy and be dry to touch- except for water drips of course
























Meanwhile.......
Make some Simple Pickles to serve with your buns

Cucumber
Carrot
Rice wine Vinegar- make sure it's GF
Pinch of Sugar



















Shave the cucumber very finely using a peeler, stopping at the seeds in the middle. Shave the carrot thinly with the peeler as well



















Pop into a bowl with the sugar and a good slurp of vinegar and scrunch it all around until fully moistened, then set aside until the buns are ready



















After 10 minutes, nicely puffed and ready to eat!



















Cut in half, still steaming warm and ready to go




















What a lovely array of yumminess!
I used a gluten free Hoi Sin Sauce, Chinese BBQ Pork, and of course, my pickles




















A good splodge of sauce, a slice or two of pork, a pile of pickles.... and munch away!




















Absolutely delicious indeed!
The fillings were great, but the buns were the real stars here.
Soft and springy with a lovely touch of coconut, these buns tasted just like NON gluten free ones would at yum cha.  Next time I'll stuff them and make Char Siu Bao to add to my gluten free dim sum collection.




















So Dear Readers, what do you think of super-chefs? Have they done much to change the world, and do you have any of their cook books on your shelves?


























.

47 comments:

  1. They look fabulous! What a wonderfully easy recipe! I'm definitely going to have to try this out!

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    1. Let me know how they go Clare. I do think that next time I make them I'll add in about a tablespoon of oil though- what do you think?

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  2. Oh woweee! Those look and sound AMAZING. I can't tell you how excited I am after looking at these little babies you've made. Yum. And I agree with you, Jamie Oliver is awesome. Unlike some of those other 'celebrity' chefs out there, he's doing so much good in this world. Love him to bits.

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    1. He is pretty cool, isn't he Emma? I hope you like these too :)

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  3. Rebecca - this meal looks to die for! You are so lucky...you can get so many GF self raising flours hoisin sauce (wow) where you are...we can't!
    Jamie Oliver is my hero...adore him!

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    1. I so wish you could too Ina! It has certainly been much easier over the last couple of years with gfree becoming more main-stream. I do look at what's available in the U.S and get a teensy bit jealous sometimes though :(

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  4. They are almost too cute to eat! ;)

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    1. Why thank you, almost like little Asian Sliders, aren't they? :)

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  5. That's brilliant! I'm so trying to coconut buns now! Thanks! :D

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    1. I hope they work out well for you Lorraine, next time though I think I'll add in a splash of oil/lard for silkiness. Let me know how they go :)

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  6. Oh I watched this episode too and was so very inspired that I googled a gluten-free version and found you! I'm so happy to hear that they were a success and can't wait to try them!

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    1. Hi Bex, nice to meet you! I certainly hope you enjoy them as much as I did :)

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  7. What a great recipe. I love the look of your steamer - very impressed - that's a gadget I don't have! I love Jamie and he's done so much in educating the world to make better food choices but I can't achieve the time-frame he sets with these recipes xx

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    1. Charlie, it's just a $20 one from the cheapy shop :) I actually prefer my bamboo steamer but it doesn't fit as many in.
      The secret to his time line is having everything absolutely,totally ready to go, he's probably used to having apprentices do all his prep for him! xox

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  8. Yum! These are being added to my gluten free repertoire for my friends who suffer intolerances.
    On the celebrity chefs/cooks - some are great, others are too full of themselves for me. I love people who are down to earth and cook wonderful food in a way that we can imitate at home - Jamie, Nigella, Maggie Beer, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Bill Grainger. Oho, no wonder my cookbooks are taking over the house if I like so many of these!

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    1. I have that problem too Lindell :) I hope these buns impress them as much as they did me!

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  9. My goodness!! I am making these this weekend. I have an asian mushroom filling by Nigel Slater that would go perfectly inside these that I have been waiting to try. Thank you! Can't wait to feel the fluffiness! :)

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    1. Oooh, that sounds great Christie! Let me know how they go... and post that mushroom recipe:)

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  10. wow awesome i lovvve the look of this, i love jamies genuiness :)

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  11. Oh, approve! Especially with the pork & pickles at the end. Unfortunately I have no steamer with which to make them!

    The 15 Minutes Meals Book is on my Christmas list (though I'm still working through the 30 Minutes Meals Book!).

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    1. Glad you approve indeed Lucas :) You certainly need to add a steamer to your Christmas list too, they are so handy to have around!

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  12. Wow - what a simple recipe. Just my speed!
    I love your steamer, too - very schmick.

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    1. Simple is great, isn't it Amanda? The steamer is just a super cheapo model though :)

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  13. I need a steamer!
    I also should really buy Jamie's books and Nigella's too, but the last thing on earth I need is more cookbooks... :-(

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    1. I hear you Janet! I even bought back half a dozen cookbooks from Singapore! My luggage was pushed well and truly over the weight limit :(

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  14. You never fail to disappoint me with your ingenious gluten free adaptations. I owe you BIG time lass!

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    1. Aw shucks Martine! But it was all Jamie this time for sure!

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  15. Oh i missed this episode! I love Jamie!

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    1. Me too! My sister is lucky enough to be going to some of his Food Ministry classes in Queensland- lucky duck :)

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  16. Oh they look fantastic! I missed that episode too! I love Jamie, his recipes always work! :)

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    1. They do, don't they Celia! I wonder if he ever burns the toast though? ;) Love him too though!

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  17. I saw that episode too and wondered what those buns would taste like. I am so glad you tried it out, and made it gf too! Yours look lovely and light in your photos. I wondered if they would be sticky and stodgy when Jamie showed us his. Dare I say that yours look better - lighter and prettier?! :)

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    1. Of course you may indeed! Even if that's not quite the case :) Gluten free flour is usually lighter than wheat flour though, and next time I'm going to add a bit of a splodge of oil/lard to add a bit of silkiness too.

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  18. Thanks for reminding me , I did see him make these and forgot all about it. Youve done a beautiful job., they look yummy

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    1. Thanks indeed! They are so easy you need to give them a go for sure :)

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  19. I'm definitely trying this! How easy :D and anything coconut is awesome in my books!

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  20. Wow these look fantastic, I'm new to your blog but will be returning for sure!
    I have a collection of favourite super chefs on my book shelf - Jamie, Nigella and Stephanie are favourites. I do tire sometimes of the idols we create - I love my food porn but sometimes it does border onto unnecessary gluttony

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  21. Yes. Mr. JO is working to change the world, and appears to have fun while doing so, even if he isn't (who knows?)! I love these 15 minute meals. I live to cook from scratch and any recipes that cook up quicker are all the better.

    Am planning to try this one because it looks good, it looks easy, and it looks quick. All the boxes checked, me thinks.

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  22. Just saw this recipe on tv ... I can't wait to cook it!

    Jamie Oliver is the man - also in the same episode I was stoked to see him handle raw chicken and then say "now I'm going to wash my hands" - hallelujah! J.O He's done it again! YUM!!

    http://www.lemony-goodness.blogspot.com

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  23. Is there any thought as to whether this recipe can be used as a dough for making egg custard buns? I've used this recipe before with great results http://www.bakeforhappykids.com/2014/02/liu-sha-bao-chinese-molten-salted-egg.html But I wanted to share the awesome with a friend who has a gluten intolerance. The buns in your recipe look like they are light and fluffy enough, yet solid enough to have a filling.

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    1. I think it would work OK. They certainly aren't as soft and fluffy as traditional one, but pretty good for gluten free. Give it a try and let me know how you go :)

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  24. Doe it have to be low fat coconut milk. I've only a tin of full fat in cupboard but so want to try these

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  25. Does it have to be low fat coconut milk I only have full fat in my cupboard. So want yo try this

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