Wife Biscuit (Lo Por Paeng) 老婆餅

Happy New Year, everyone!   My first post for 2015 is 'Wife Biscuit' aka 'Lo Por Paeng', a soft and flaky pastry with winter melon filling which is a very popular delicacy in Hong Kong.  The ones that I find here are not the same as their  flaky counterparts, instead they are crispy and thin.   I've been surfing the internet for a recipe and I was very happy when I stumbled upon a Youtube video from SiuKitchen.   The video is in Cantonese and she gives very detailed steps on how to make these flaky pastries.   The pastries were good and stayed flaky and soft for three days in an airtight container.  I needn't have to reheat them in the oven toaster.

Recipe for Wife Biscuit (Lo Por Paeng)  老婆餅 

Ingredients

Filling

• 120 gm candied winter melon, finely chopped
• 5 ml oil
• 15 gm caster sugar
• 40 gm koh fun
• 50 ml water

Method

1. Add sugar to the chopped winter melon, mix in the oil, water and mix lightly together.
2. Add in koh fun and mix to form a paste.  (Add in a bit more water if paste is too dry).
3. Divide paste into 8 balls.  Set aside.

Oil Dough

• 80 gm plain flour
• 60 gm shortening

Method

1. Sieve the flour into a mixing bowl, cut and rub in the shortening.  Mix till well combined.
2. Divide dough into 8 portions.  

Water Dough

• 100 gm plain flour
• 40 gm shortening
• 50 ml cold water

Method

1. Sieve the flour into a mixing bowl, cut and rub in the shortening.  Gradually add in the water, mix till well combined.
2. Divide dough into 8 portions.

Egg Glaze - 1 whole egg yolk

Sesame seeds

Assembling the biscuit

1. Roll out a piece of water dough, place a piece of oil dough on it, wrap it up into a ball.
2. Flatten out the dough and roll up like a swiss roll, longitudinally.
3. Flatten and roll up again like a swiss roll.  Place a ball of paste and wrap up into a ball.
4. Roll out and flatten the ball of dough slightly.
5. Apply egg glaze and cut two slits on the cake.
6. Sprinkle with some sesame seeds.
7. Bake in a preheated oven @ 180 deg.C for 15 to 18 mins. till golden brown.
8. Let cool on wire rack before serving.
9. Yield :  8 biscuits