19 Chinese Rice Tamales Recipe Ignite Your Passion For Cooking!
Published on: Mar 24, 2024
Rice tamales, also known as zongzi, are a traditional Chinese dish that is typically eaten during the Dragon Boat Festival. These savory treats are made with glutinous rice, which gives them a sticky and chewy texture, and are filled with various ingredients such as meat, vegetables, and beans. While there are many variations of this dish, the following is a classic Chinese rice tamales recipe that will surely satisfy your taste buds.
1 cup dried shiitake mushrooms, soaked in hot water for 30 minutes and thinly sliced
1 cup dried chestnuts, soaked in hot water for 2 hours and peeled
1 cup dried mung beans, soaked in hot water for 2 hours
Instructions
In a large bowl, mix together the glutinous rice, vegetable oil, dark soy sauce, five-spice powder, and salt. Set aside.
In a separate bowl, marinate the pork belly with soy sauce, rice wine, sesame oil, sugar, cornstarch, salt, and five-spice powder. Let it sit for 30 minutes.
Take a bamboo leaf and fold it into a cone shape. Add a spoonful of the rice mixture into the cone and press it against the sides to form a cup.
Fill the cup with a spoonful of the pork belly mixture, followed by a few slices of shiitake mushrooms, chestnuts, and mung beans.
Top with another spoonful of the rice mixture and press it down to seal the filling inside.
Wrap the bamboo leaf tightly around the rice to form a pyramid shape. Use kitchen twine to secure the leaf in place.
Repeat with the remaining ingredients.
In a large pot, bring water to a boil and add the wrapped tamales. Cook for 2-3 hours, making sure the tamales are fully submerged in water.
Remove the tamales from the water and let them cool for 10 minutes before unwrapping and serving.
This classic Chinese rice tamales recipe may take some time and effort, but the end result is worth it. The combination of sticky rice, savory pork belly, and various fillings creates a burst of flavors and textures in every bite. Enjoy these tamales as a delicious snack or as a main dish with a side of vegetables. Happy cooking!