Nyonya Rice Dumpling

Name: Nyonya Rice Dumpling
Total time: 7200 s
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: British
Ingredients: Prepared The Night Before:; 10 g Organic Blue Pea Flowers,; 500 g Glutinous White Rice,; 800 g Chicken Stock Room Temperature,; Pinch Sea Salt,; Pinch White Pepper,; 40 g Chinese Dried Mushrooms,; 30 g Dried Scallops,; 10 g Dried Shrimps,; 500 g Chicken Thigh Skinless Boneless Finely Diced,; 1/2 TBSP Kecap Manis,; 2 TBSP Light Soy Sauce,; 2 TBSP Shao Xing Wine / Hua Tiao Wine,; Pinch Dried Mushroom Powder.; 12 Dried Bamboo Leaves,; Dumplings:; Sesame Oil, For Stir-Frying; 1/2 Inch Ginger Finely Minced,; Scallions Finely Chopped, A Handful + More For Garnishing; Pinch Sea Salt,; Pinch White Pepper,; 10 Shallots Finely Minced,; 6 Cloves Garlic Finely Minced,; 3 TBSP Coriander Powder,; Bull Head Brand Chinese BBQ Sauce, 3 TBSP; 1 TBSP Galangal Finely Grated,; 150 g Candied Winter Melon Finely Diced,; 1 Handful Pandan Leaves,

Daniel Lim @fatdoughsg

Singapore

#mycookbook

Duanwu or Dragon Boat or Rice Dumplings Festival is just a few days away. As far as I can remember I made a rice dumpling recipe 2 years ago. Quite frankly, I am not a fan of rice dumplings. I know it is weird for an Asian to dislike rice. I still prefer pasta, noodles and bread over rice; it is just not my go-to carbs.

Anyway, I actually have this open-faced rice dumpling idea since 2019 (my health was in shambles back in 2019 and I am glad that I am starting to gain control 2020). Even tho 2020 proves to be quite a challenge thus far. I am still grateful that I am alive and be able to execute on this concept of mine. Do not worry, I will also include the traditional method down in the directions below.

In closing, my grandma used to make this nyonya version of rice dumplings by the hundreds. She would give all her neighbors and anyone who passed by during this festive season. I would sit quietly in her kitchen and watched her wrap the dumplings tirelessly. I can feel her joy. So, making this dish is like paying homage to her and every bite is reminiscing nostalgic memories. I really hope you will give this recipe a try.

#mycookbook

Daniel Lim @fatdoughsg

Saved

Ingredients

2hrs

4 servings

Prepared The Night Before:
10 gOrganic Blue Pea Flowers,
500 gGlutinous White Rice,
800 gChicken Stock Room Temperature,
PinchSea Salt,
PinchWhite Pepper,
40 gChinese Dried Mushrooms,
30 gDried Scallops,
10 gDried Shrimps,
500 gChicken Thigh Skinless Boneless Finely Diced,
1/2 TBSPKecap Manis,
2 TBSPLight Soy Sauce,
2 TBSPShao Xing Wine / Hua Tiao Wine,
PinchDried Mushroom Powder.
12Dried Bamboo Leaves,
Dumplings:
Sesame Oil, For Stir-Frying
1/2 InchGinger Finely Minced,
Scallions Finely Chopped, A Handful + More For Garnishing
PinchSea Salt,
PinchWhite Pepper,
10Shallots Finely Minced,
6 ClovesGarlic Finely Minced,
3 TBSPCoriander Powder,
Bull Head Brand Chinese BBQ Sauce, 3 TBSP
1 TBSPGalangal Finely Grated,
150 gCandied Winter Melon Finely Diced,
1 HandfulPandan Leaves,

Saved

Steps

2hrs

1

Prepare the night before.
In a large bowl, add blue pea flowers and 800g of warm water.
Set aside to cool and allow the flowers to dye the water with a shade of blue.
Drain and discard the flowers, keeping the wonderful blue colored water.
Wash the glutinous rice under running water and drain.
2

Keep washing and draining for about 5 times.
Add half of the rice into the blue colored water.
Season with salt and pepper.
Stir to combine well and set aside overnight.
3

Transfer the other half of the rice into another large bowl.
Add in chicken stock, mushrooms, scallops, shrimps, salt and pepper.
Stir to combine well and set aside overnight.
In another bowl, add chicken, kecap manis, soy sauce, wine, salt, pepper and mushroom powder.
Stir to coat the chicken well.
Cover with cling film and marinate in the fridge overnight.
4

Prepare the dumplings.
The next day, the mushroom and scallops should have hydrated.
Fish them out. Finely dice the mushroom and shred the scallops by simply pulling them apart.
5

Drain the blue colored rice and discard the water.
Drain the other bowl of rice, keeping the water.
*You will need the water at a later stage.*
6

In a skillet over medium heat, add sesame oil.
Once the oil is heated up, add in mushrooms.
Saute until the mushrooms start to caramelize.
Drizzle in some of that rice water.
Add in ginger and saute until aromatic.
7

Add in scallions, season with salt and pepper, saute until well combined.
Remove from heat and set aside.
In the same skillet over medium heat, add sesame oil.
Once the oil is heated up, add in shallots.
Saute until translucent.
8

Add in garlic and saute until aromatic.
Add in coriander powder and saute until well combined.
Drizzle in some of that rice water to deglaze.
Add in galangal, BBQ sauce and shredded scallops.
9

Saute until well combined.
Deglaze with some of that rice water.
Season with salt and pepper.
Lastly, add in the wintermelon.
Give it a final saute, remove from heat and set aside.
10

I am doing an open-faced concept as shown in the photos. You can choose to wrap the rice and fillings up into pyramid-shaped dumplings if desired. I will include the steps for both concepts.*
11

Open-faced concept:
I am using an electric double-decker steamer. You can use 2 decks of bamboo steamers and steam in a wok over medium heat with water. You will need to do in batches if your bamboo steamers are small.
Wipe the bamboo leaves clean with a kitchen towel.
12

Lay bamboo leaves on the steamer.
Lay some pandan leaves over the bamboo leaves.
Spoon in the glutinous rice, white and blue separating from one another, over the top.
Tied 2 knots of pandan leaves and place them on top of the rice.
*This is your bottom deck.*
13

Cover and steam for 40 mins.
Spoon the chicken and mushroom over another deck of steamer.
Spreading out evenly.
Place this deck over the rice deck.
Steam together for another 30 mins or until the rice is fully cooked.
14

I did it this way so that the flavors of the chicken and mushrooms will infuse the rice and vice versa. I cook the rice 1st cos the rice takes longer time to cook.*
15

Remove from heat and transfer onto serving plate.
Garnish with scallions and serve immediately.
If you want the same presentation as shown in the photos, place the white rice into a 4-inch pastry ring. Spoon the chicken and mushroom over the rice. Lastly, blue rice. Using the back of a spoon to compact at every layer. Garnish with some scallions.
16

Wrapped concept:
Clean and wipe the bamboo leaves with a kitchen towel.
Bring a large heavy pot of water to a rolling boil.
Take 2 bamboo leaves, one on top of the other, take the halfway point, fold and form it into a cone shape.
17

Add a scoop of the white rice into the cone.
Pack it down firmly.
Add 2 spoonfuls of the chicken and mushrooms.
Add a scoop of blue rice on top.
Pack it down firmly.
18

Fold the leaves down and form a pyramid shape.
Tie the dumplings tightly with hemp strings.
*It takes a few practices until you get it right. Most importantly is to the tie the dumplings tightly.*
19

Repeat the process for the remaining dumplings.
Add the dumplings into the boiling water.
Cover and boil for about 2.5 hours.
20

At the 2 hours mark, remove one of the dumplings, unwrap and test if it is cooked.
If it is cooked, remove from heat, place in a wire cooling rack to drain off excess water and cool down.
If it is not yet cooked, continue cooking for another hour and check again,
When it is cool enuff to handle, unwrap and serve.