Steamed Chicken and Shiitake Dim Sum Buns

Buns

3/4 cup warm water
1/8 cup sugar
1/2 tablespoon dry yeast
1/2 tablespoon melted lard
2 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
5 tablespoons water

Chicken and Shiitake Stuffing

Canola oil, to cook
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon minced ginger
2 cups sliced shiitake mushrooms
Salt and black pepper
2 cups ground chicken meat
1/3 cup chopped chives
1 tablespoon truffle oil

To make the buns:

Mix warm water with sugar to dissolve. Add yeast and let stand for 10 minutes. Mixture should get foamy, or the yeast is dead. Mix in lard. In a food processor, add flour and yeast mixture. While blade is spinning, pour in water until a ball forms. If dough is too sticky, add more flour. If dough appears dry and doesn't form a ball, add more water. As soon as a ball forms, take dough out and knead by hand on a floured surface for 10 minutes. Roll dough into one long log about 2-inch thick. Cut into 2-inch pieces.

To make the filling:

In a saute pan coated with oil, saute garlic and ginger. Add shiitakes and cook until soft. Season with salt and pepper. Let mixture cool.

To assemble:

In a bowl, mix shiitakes, chicken, chives and truffle oil. Season with salt and pepper. Keep filling chilled before stuffing buns.
Form thick circles of the dough and place about 1 tablespoon of stuffing in the middle of each piece.

Encircle stuffing with dough but do not seal. Let rest in a warm place for 30 minutes. In a steamer basket, steam buns for 10-12 minutes.