Flaky Yam Moon Cake

Ingredients
Outer Pastry
200g plain flour (medium protein)
20g castor sugar
50g butter
2g salt
130ml water
few drops of coloring (purple for yam)

Inner Pastry
180g cake flour (low protein)
80g shortening

Yam Filling
1kg yam (skin peeled and diced small)
280g castor sugar
55g wheaten starch
100g shallots sliced
170ml oil

Other Fillings
800g red bean or lotus paste

Directions
outer dough

• mix flour, sugar, butter and salt with finger tips till crumbly and add water (with colorings)
• knead until soft dough and rest for 20min
• divide into 6 portions

outer dough

• mix flour and shortening together to form a dough and divide into 6 portions

yam filling

• steam yam till soft for about 30min
• fry shallots in half portion of the oil till crispy and frangrant
• using a mixer with paddle attachment, blend yam, sugar and wheaten starch (chunky or fine is up to you)
• keep in fridge to cool
• the excess oil is for consistency adjustment only

final assembly

• flour working space generously with flour
• flatten the outer pastry and wrap around the inner pastry
• flatten lengthwise and roll it up like a swiss roll
• flatten it again lengthwise and cut into 2 equal pieces
• brush the esposed side with water and put the 2 pieces on top of each other
• roll from the cut edges (like a swiss roll... make sure the roll form nice spiral pattern)... and cut into 2 again
• roll and flatten each dough with the cut side facing downwards
• wrap up the filling (40g or a full tablespoon) and form a round shape (can also form other shapes as desired)
• deep fry in oil (put a rack in wok) at 160°C for about 7min
• after frying, put in a baking tray lined with parchment paper and bake at 180°C for about 10min or till light golden brown
• the mooncake can also be fried for 12min and served directly. Baking step is to crisp it up further and let the paper absorb excess oil

Foodnote: The yam paste is really nice. I can make it and keep it to fill breads too. Need more practice to form a nice layered pastry. Definitely will make this at home one day.