Food & Receipts

The Ultimate Guide to Making Delicious and Authentic Hai Phong Spicy Bread at Home

Spicy Hai Phong Bread - a delicious and well-loved treat, is a favorite among many. Join us as we embark on a culinary journey to recreate this mouth-watering delicacy in the comfort of your own home!

Administrator

29 July, 2024

108

Preparation
15 minutes Cooking
3 hours Servings
5 – 6 people

The famous Hai Phong spicy bread sticks are irresistible to many food connoisseurs due to their chewy texture and spicy pate. With the complicated pandemic situation, if you can’t go out to enjoy this delicacy, don’t miss this article, as we will guide you on how to make it at home with delicious and simple steps!

1Ingredients for Hai Phong Bread Sticks

200ml warm water at about 40 degrees Celsius
12g yeast, 500g (baker’s flour or bread flour)
10g salt, 15g sugar
5g milk powder, 18g butter
Tools: Oven, mixing bowl and whisk

Ingredients for Hai Phong Bread Sticks

2How to Make Hai Phong Bread Sticks

Step 1 Activate the Yeast

Prepare a cup of warm water at about 200ml. Add 18g of sugar to the water, then add 12g of yeast and stir the mixture well. Let it sit for 15 minutes to activate the yeast.

Note: After the activation time, if the yeast has formed a clump that resembles crab meat, it is ready.

Activating the yeast

Step 2 Make the Dough

In a large mixing bowl, combine 500g of bread flour, 5g of salt, 10g of oil, and the yeast mixture. Add 130ml of water and 15g of vinegar, then mix well.

Making the dough

Step 3 Knead the Dough

You can knead the dough by machine, setting it at a slow speed for 5 minutes, then switching to a higher speed for 10 minutes. This process should take a total of 15 minutes, resulting in a soft and stretchy dough that is not sticky to the touch.

Tip:
If you don’t have a machine, you can knead the dough by hand like this: Fold the dough in half, then use the palm of your hand to press and stretch the dough outward (press and stretch outward, not downward). Turn the dough 90 degrees and repeat the process. Continue kneading in this manner for 20-25 minutes.

The dough is ready when it is elastic, has good stretch, is not sticky, and can be stretched thin without tearing.

Kneading the dough

Step 4 Proof the Dough

Grease a bowl with a thin layer of oil and place the prepared dough in it. Lightly grease your hands with oil and gently rub it all over the dough. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a damp cloth and let the dough rise for about an hour, or until it doubles in size.

The dough is ready when you can poke it with your finger and the indentation remains.

Proofing the dough

Step 5 Shape the Dough

After an hour, the dough should have doubled in size. Lightly grease your hands with oil to prevent the dough from sticking. Knead the dough briefly to even it out, then use a knife to divide it.

First, divide the dough into two equal halves. Then, divide each half into 8 smaller portions, aiming for a weight of 50-55g per portion. Shape each portion into a ball and cover them with plastic wrap or a damp cloth to prevent drying.

Next, roll each ball into a long stick, aiming for a length of 20-25cm. Once shaped, let the dough rise again for about 30 minutes, or until it doubles in size, before baking.

Shaping the dough

Step 6 Bake the Bread Sticks

While waiting for the dough to rise, preheat your oven and place a small tray of water on the lowest rack. Set the oven temperature to 230 degrees Celsius and preheat for about 10 minutes.

Once the dough has doubled in size, line a baking tray with parchment paper. Lightly spray or brush the surface of the dough with water, then place it in the oven. Position the tray in the middle of the oven to ensure even baking.

After 2 minutes, spray or brush the dough with water again. Repeat this step every 4 minutes to create a crispy crust.

After about 11 minutes, use oven mitts to remove the tray of water from the oven. At this point, the top of the bread should be golden. Use tongs or a spatula to carefully flip the bread sticks over so that they brown evenly.

After baking for approximately 22 minutes, turn off the oven and remove the bread sticks. Place them on a wire rack and cover with a cloth to keep them warm.

Note: Bake only one batch of bread sticks at a time to ensure the best quality and consistency.

Baking the bread sticks

Step 7 Enjoy Your Creation

The bread sticks should now have a crispy exterior and a soft, fluffy interior. Use a pair of scissors to cut a slit along the side of each bread stick, then fill it with pate. If you like spicy food, add some chili sauce for an authentic Hai Phong experience!

Hai Phong Spicy Bread Sticks

Hai Phong Spicy Bread Sticks first appeared in the 1980s, originating from a small shop in the alley of Khanh Lap, near Hang Kenh Ward. This snack quickly gained popularity for its delicious taste, affordability, and convenience. Over time, it spread throughout Hai Phong and beyond.

For more delicious recipes, check out our website!

This is the complete guide to making delicious and simple Hai Phong spicy bread sticks at home. We hope you’ll give it a try and impress your family during this pandemic season!

Frequently asked questions

It is a traditional Vietnamese street food originating from the city of Hai Phong. It is a type of flatbread with a spicy and savory taste, often served as a snack or side dish.

The essential ingredients include rice flour, tapioca starch, baking powder, salt, sugar, water, and a generous amount of spices such as chili powder, paprika, and black pepper. Additionally, you will need a filling, typically a mixture of ground pork, shrimp, and vegetables.

To make the filling, mix ground pork, shrimp, shallots, garlic, fish sauce, sugar, and black pepper. You can adjust the spiciness and seasoning to your taste. It is essential to ensure the filling is well-combined and slightly sticky to hold together when cooked.

Combine rice flour, tapioca starch, baking powder, salt, sugar, and water to form a soft dough. The dough should be kneaded until smooth and elastic. Then, divide the dough into small portions and roll them out thinly. You can add a small amount of oil to the dough to make it easier to work with.

Place a portion of the filling in the center of each dough circle. Carefully wrap the dough around the filling and shape it into a flat disc. Heat oil in a pan and fry the bread until golden brown and crispy. You can also bake them in the oven for a healthier alternative.

Traditionally, it is served with a dipping sauce made of fish sauce, lime juice, chili, and garlic. It can be enjoyed as a snack or paired with a bowl of soup or noodles for a more substantial meal. It is best served fresh and warm, but you can also store leftovers in an airtight container and reheat them gently.

Yes, you can customize the recipe to your taste and dietary preferences. For example, you can use chicken or tofu instead of pork, or omit the shrimp for a vegetarian option. You can also adjust the spiciness level by adding more or less chili powder. Feel free to experiment with different fillings and seasonings to create your unique version.