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Sep 6, 2012

Lotus Leaf Glutinous Rice Packets


(adapted from here and there)





Not exactly Birkin, Coach or LV .. but far yummier 



It does look like fine leather, doesn't it?

Ever since making my first and last attempt of the glutinous rice dumpling (bacang/chung) wrapped with bamboo leaves, I vowed never again after an agonizing 2 weeks of suffering from a major rash breakout. Who'd have thunk I'd be allergic to the little fine, prickly fuzz on the leaves? 
I'd found some dried lotus leaves tucked away in my pantry from god-knows-when, and decided to use them instead to make these little rice packets. 
The flavor is a little different from the bacangs, a small part of it due to the different types of leaves used, a little less intense. More like Lor Mai Fun ... or is this Lor Mai Fun? Do I know my Chinese dishes or what?

You can prepare this ahead of time. Keep the bundles in the freezer and steam it when you want it.


INGREDIENTS
(makes 4 small-ish packets)

1 cup glutinous rice, washed & soaked for a couple of hours

1 small onion diced
2 large cloves garlic, chopped
1 small knob young ginger, julienned

4 -5 medium sized, dried shitake mushrooms, soaked until soft & sliced
1/4 cup dried shrimps, soaked to soften, drained and coarsely chopped
1/4 cup diced char siew / chinese bbq pork
1/8 cup Chinese preserved sausage (lap cheong), diced
1 cup diced chicken meat, marinade with 1/2 tsp white pepper, dash of Chinese rice wine & 1 tsp cornstarch

chopped scallions, for garnish

2 double-layered halves lotus leaves, cut into quarters.
(That means you'll get 4 double-layered quarters)
*Note: The leaves usually come folded in halves. Do not separate the 2 layers. Having a double layer ensures the holes (if any) are plugged up.

Seasoning Ingredients
Mix everything in a bowl:

1/4 tsp sesame oil
3 tsp light soy sauce
2 tsp oyster sauce
1 tsp Chinese rice wine
1/8 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp 5-spice powder


METHOD

Drain glutinous rice. Put into rice cooker with 1/2 cup water and a pinch of salt. Cook and cool.

While the rice is cooking, saute the dried shrimp in a little oil until fragrant and slightly crispy. Remove from pan.
Heat another tbs of oil in the same pan and saute the chopped garlic, onions and ginger until lightly browned and onions are soft.
Toss in the diced, marinaded chicken and cook until browned.
Stir in the mushrooms, preserved sausage and bbq pork.
Add in the cooked glutinous rice, fluff it out a bit, add in the seasoning mix and stir everything together to combine evenly.
Leave aside while you prepare the lotus leaves.

Put a wide pot of water to boil. Soak the leaves in for about 10 minutes, turning them over if needed.

Remove the softened leaves gently, pat dry and trim off the hard tip as illustrated below. 






Divide the rice into 4 portions. Put one portion onto the lower center of one leaf and wrap according to the diagram, tucking in the end securely.
(*Note: I have come across some suggestions where it's done the opposite of how I wrap this but I've found it easier to tuck in the narrow end. Wrap it any which way you like as long as it doesn't accidentally open up in the midst of steaming. Or tie it with vine if you wish).

Steam packets over high heat for 10 mins.
To serve, make a diagonal cross cut on the top of the packet and fold the flaps outwards. Sprinkle with chopped scallions.
Eat while hot.











55 comments:

  1. Hi Ping, for a moment I thought it was your new leather purse. LOL
    Your lotus leaf glutinous rice look delicious and your parcel is so neat and pretty.

    Hungry now.... can past me one parcel? LOL

    Have a nice week ahead.

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    1. Hi Amelia. Haha! This is definitely much cheaper than a leather purse. Thank you for the lovely compliments. Unfortunately this was a small recipe and all 4 packets are all gone! I'm sure you can make really nice ones. A nice weekend to you too!

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  2. Haha, I like your intro. It does have a likeness to leather. I think I've seen these wrapped goodies in dim sum shops and they call them "hor yeep farn" or something like that.

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    1. Thank you! What does "hor yeep" mean? The "farn" part I get.

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  3. been meaning to try out this but was confused on how to wrap. Thanks for the tutorial :)

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    1. This was just my own simple way of wrapping. There are far more complicated ways where it wraps into a beautiful circle and opens up to look like a fully blossomed lotus flower. A little too fussy for me altho beautiful. Glad you find the tutorial helpful.

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  4. Your rice packet look so nice ! Thanks for sharing the diagram , very useful. I made this once but my children seem could not accept the aroma from the lotus leaf. for me I simply love this. Ya, did you receive an kiwi invitation?

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    1. Hi Sonia. Thank you so much! I also prefer the aroma from the lotus leaf to the bamboo leaves.
      Yes, I did receive the kiwi fruit invitation but unfortunately can't make it this time. I would have loved to attend. Sounds like fun!

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  5. Ping, The rice parcel really looks like a pretty leather purse. So well wrapped and delicious too! I'm getting hungry now ^_^

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    1. Thanks, Ann. It does look like a leather purse, doesn't it? LOL!

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  6. This is called "Hor Yip Fun" right? Looks delicious. The diagram you shared on how to make the rice packet looks simple so I might attempt to try it out someday.

    I am going with Sonia to the kiwi fruit thingy so will miss you this time. Hope to catch up with you soon.

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    1. You're asking me? Someone who can't speak cantonese? But I'll have to say yes since Kiddothings (above comment) called it the same thing. I just wanted bacang and can't use bamboo leaves. :) What does "Hor Yip" mean?

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    2. Hor Yip is lotus leaf. (I think) hehe

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  7. This looks delicious. I came over from Lizzy's blog and very glad I did! I'm you newest follower, can't wait to see what you come up with next! I like your diagram, very easy to follow.

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    1. Thank you and for coming by. I'm happy you like what you see. Nice to meet you!

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  8. I did sort of look like a leather clutch! You have so much patience, I would have probably given up altogether. Especially after the allergic reaction.

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    1. Hi Sandra! Haha! I did give up for a long while after that very itchy incident. If I hadn't found those lotus leaves in my pantry, I'd probably never have made these.

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  9. Fried rice transformed into a sandwich! And there is pork, shrimp, mushroom, sausage, chicken... My head is starting to spin with all these delightful ingredients. You are totally right: it does remind me of leather. I have never tasted bamboo or lotus leaves (I haven't even seen them here), so it looks very intriguing and exotic too. I suppose the package is not edible ;-)
    If I ever stumble upon any it the leaves you mention, I'll prepare it because it must taste great and also because I'm still looking for ideas of how to use glutinous rice I once bought instead of jasmine rice in a 5 kg bag... (the logo and everything was identical apart from just one line...). Until now I have been preparing only Pearl Balls and I'm not a big fan of sweet rice dishes.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. You're right, Sissi! It is fried rice! How clever! Altho fried rice to us here means using regular rice and not glutinous, but technically it is rice and fried the same way as fried rice, except this texture is more gooey! And a sandwich to boot ... hahahaahha! That is hilarious! And no, the package isn't edible.
      You might find those leaves at an Asian dried goods store. It's pretty brittle in it's dry state. Or better yet, you won't even need the leaves to have this rice but you won't get the aroma of the leaves.
      I hope you get to try this someday.

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  10. I've ALWAYS wanted to make this! Thank you Ping!

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    1. Hi Amanda! Glad you find this helpful! Enjoy!

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  11. Ahhhh!!! I like this. Cantonese pillow zhang? Lo mai kai? Oh??? So hard to bungkus kah? I though could just simply wrap one... Gee!!! Learn new things every day...

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    1. Thanks, Arthur. Haha! I wouldn't know if it's Cantonese or not but from what QPC and Kiddothings called it, I guess it is! No la, not so hard to bungkus, just a little easier to illustrate than to explain fold here, fold there, tuck in everywhere, put your right foot out ... you know, people will get confused.

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  12. Wow, I love these... definitely one of my favourite dim sum. That last picture is making my stomach growl!

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    1. Hi Mich! Yes, it's one of the dishes in a dim sum course. Except they don't bother with the leaves anymore these days. Saves time and cost, I would think. Well, over here anyway. Maybe in some better restaurants they still do. Making tummies growl is a great compliment! :) Thank you!

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  13. I like your step-by-step photos and especially the last snap with all the interior goodness!! I'm quite certain I would love these little pillows of pleasure :).

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    1. Hi Kelly! Thank you. Not sure if I'd call this a healthy dish :) but what's healthy in Asian food? Hehe ... gotta indulge once in a while. Hope you get to try this one day.

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  14. Lovely pouch...i meant the glutinous rice.hehehhehe. I think the designer pouch is nothing compared to your edible pouch.ahhahahah

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    1. Hi Yee Ling. Haha! Thank you! It's definitely a lot more affordable and being a person who isn't into designer stuff, this is much more satisfying.

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  15. now you are making me hungry.. isn't this the same as loh mai fun? it's my favourite oh, must order everytime I go to eat dim sum.

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    1. Dunno. I'm just throwing things together that I think is similar to a Lor Mai Fun.

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  16. Eh, I like this lah. During wedding dinners they serve this stuff right at the end when everyone is already so full. But I don't care, I love it and can still accomodate 2 bowls. Honestly, I wouldn't attempt this at home. Too much work :)

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    1. Honestly, Phong Hong, the stuff that you cook esp those nyonya dishes are a heck of a lot more complicated than this. As Sissi said above, it's fried rice wrapped up. I'm sure you can manage this, non problemo.

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  17. Such genius little packets, Ping! I love the illustration you made on paper cut-out to show it off better. Love these little bundle of goodness, but I would have to substitute the leaves for grape leaves since we cannot get bamboo leaves here in S. Florida (I would have to search the internet for it)

    With the grape leaves, it would have to be made into little rolls...not the same, but perhaps the flavor would be close to it! Have a wonderful weekend:)xoxo

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    1. Thanks, Elisabeth. Vine leaves would be great ... like the greek stuff. A bit of both worlds! These aren't bamboo leaves, they're lotus leaves, which may be easier to get where you are at the Asian stores, anywhere that sells dried produce. Chinatown might have it.
      You can also overlap the grape leaves to make a bigger package but you'd need some twine to tie the bundle together. Hope you get to try it out someday.
      You have a great weekend too!

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  18. What beautiful packets, Ping! And the filling looks so tempting! That last photo is fantastic...I want to dig right in :) So great to see a post from you~

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    1. Thank you. Lizzy. Need to keep busy and life goes on. What better way than to read comments that make me happy :)

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  19. oh, i can afford to hv this 'branded' purse rice! delicious! you can call it lor mai fan, no big deal. hor yeep means lotus leaf, hence the name hor yeep fan :)

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    1. Haha! Yes, Lena, this is definitely something that's more affordable. Thank you for the explanation.

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  20. I really thought it was a leather purse, Ping. I am looking through the ingredients and after you opened up the purse, I mean the leaves, the hunger just sets in to me. We haven't had dinner yet so this torture. I hope you are having a fun week, Ping. :)

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    1. Haha! Hi, Ray! I've learnt to never look at food blogs til I've had something to eat :)
      Thank you!

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  21. Stuffed purses, pockets, etc. are so much fun. Biting into them and receiving a delicious surprise is wonderful! Great post Ping! Thanks for stopping by the other day with your kind comment!

    Roz

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    1. Hi Roz. Thank you! Yes, these were fun to make.
      But these pockets aren't for biting into ... more to dig into :) The leaves aren't meant to be eaten, neither are those made with bamboo leaves.

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  22. Lotus Leaf Glutinous Rice is my dad's favourite. I wouldn't be able to figure out how to to wrap it. Hehehe.. Glad you show the step by step photo. This can be one of the dish for next year CNY ;). Can't wait to try making these on my own. Huggss

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    1. It's just like wrapping any old gift. This is actually a simple way to wrap. I couldn't be bothered with those fancy ones where it opens out to look like a lotus flower ... and then get massacred and eaten. Duh. Yeah, it would be great for CNY! Hope you get to make them! Hugs back!

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  23. I have most of the listed ingredients, even lotus leaves! Need to get some sausages (maybe some German sausages will work? if not, I am going for vegetarian version) to get this done.
    Thanks, Ping, for sharing this beautiful recipe.

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    1. That's great, Angie! I think a good salami might work better than German sausages but I don't see why not. A vegetarian one sounds good too! Let me know how it turns out when you do make it :) Enjoy!

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  24. My hat is always off to folks like you who are willing to go to all that effort to stuff and roll leaves. To think that last time you broke out in an allergic reaction really makes this renewed effort seem herculean!

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    1. Aww ... thanks Kristen. Herculean? Haha, no, not that big a feat really. I'd found it easier to wrap with the lotus leaves than the bamboo leaves and no break outs! Yay!

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  25. Oooh, I have to find me some lotus leaves. These little packets look awesome.

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    1. Hi Keets! Thanks! You can just stuff it with a regular fried rice if you're not into glutinous rice. Hope you enjoy fiddling with this :)

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  26. Love this rice packets! Have to try making them now that I have a recipe!

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  27. Are you saying Birkin, Coach or LV is not yummy (to eat)?:) You never know unless you try it.
    This looks really really creative, and yummy.
    For some strange reason when I see the photo I keep thinking of loose cigeratte pouches - don't know why.

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    1. Har har, Mr T.
      If designer bags taste anything like my dog's chew bone, this is definitely way better :)
      Loose cigarette pouches, eh? What have you been rolling lately? ;)

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