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Eight Treasure Rice

Name: Eight Treasure Rice
Prep time: 1 hr 5 min
Cook time: 1 hr 45 min
Total time: 2 h 50 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Chinese-Huaiyang
Ingredients: 1 lb. Sweet rice; 4 cup Water; Rice Seasoning; 0.5 cup Sugar; 2 tbsp. Lard; 1 piece Walnut; 4 piece Jujube; 4 piece Black dates; 8 piece Lotus seeds; 8 piece Goji berry; 15 piece Dried apricots; 8 piece Pine nuts; 8 piece Raisins; Syrup; 1 cup Water; 1 tbsp. Osmanthus syrup; 0.5 tbsp. Sugar; 1.5 tbsp. Slurry (a mixture of equal parts of water and corn starch)

Eight–Treasure Rice is a traditional Chinese New Year dessert and also served during festival banquets. This dish has lucky meanings. The number eight is a magic number for Chinese people. In Chinese, the number eight sounds like another Chinese work “fa 發 “. fa 發 in Chinese means rich or to thrive in business.

Chef John Zhang

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Done

Recipe

PRE TIME: 1 hr 5 min

COOKING TIME: 1 hr 45 min

TOTAL TIME: 2 hr 50 min

8 SERVING

Ingredients:

1 lb. Sweet rice
4 cup Water
Rice Seasoning
0.5 cup Sugar
2 tbsp. Lard
1 piece Walnut
4 piece Jujube
4 piece Black dates
8 piece Lotus seeds
8 piece Goji berry
15 piece Dried apricots
8 piece Pine nuts
8 piece Raisins
Syrup
1 cup Water
1 tbsp. Osmanthus syrup
0.5 tbsp. Sugar
1.5 tbsp. Slurry (a mixture of equal parts of water and corn starch)

Directions:

Step 1

In a mixing bowl, soak the 1lb/450g sweet rice in 4 cup cold water for 2 hours. Discard the water.

Step 2

Put soaked sweet rice in a steamer basket lined with cheesecloth.

Step 2-1

Steam for 30 minutes.

Step 3

In a mixing bowl, combine the steamed sweet rice, ½ cup/110g sugar, and 2tbsp/10g lard. Blend thoroughly.

Step 4

Making red bean paste: (optional - skip this step if you prefer to purchase red bean paste from Asian supermarkets) please follow the directions attached to this recipe at the bottom.

Step 5

In a large bowl, brush a thin layer of lard.

Step 5-1

Put 10oz/285g sweet rice, use a spoon press hard on the rice, and flatten the top.

Step 5-2

Add 3oz/85g red bean paste, press hard on it and flatten the top.

Step 5-3

Add another layer of sweet rice, and fill up the rice to the top of the bowl.

Step 5-4

Place a plate on top, flip over, and remove the bowl.

Step 6

Place walnut in the middle, then position 4 Jujubes and 4 black dates alternately to form the first circle next to walnut, then 8 lotus seeds to form the second circle. Put 8 Goji berries in between Jujubes and black dates, then put the 15 dried apricots for the outer circle. Sprinkle pine nuts and raisins on top.

Step 7

Cover with the bowl again and steam for 1 hour. Remove from the steamer.

Step 8

In a cooking pan, add about a cup of water, then add 1tbsp/15ml Osmanthus syrup, 1/2tbsp/8g sugar, and some water + corn starch slurry. Constantly stir until desired consistency.

Step 9

Remove the bowl again, and pour the syrup on top.

Final Notes

Making the red bean paste: ● 4 cups water ● 1 lb/450g red bean ● ½ cup/110g sugar ● Salt, a pinch ● 2 tbsp/10g lard; Preparation: 1. In a cooking pot, add red beans and water, and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for two hours. 2. In a large bowl, put enough water, place a sieve on top, spoon red beans to the siever, use the spoon break beans, and discard remains(bean skin) in the sieve. Then, cover a strainer with a fine mesh cloth, and pour the bean mixture in the covered strainer. Squeeze the liquid out. This is the red bean paste. 3. In a cooking pan over low heat, add red bean paste, ½cup/110g sugar, a pinch of salt, and 2tbsp/10g lard. Stir constantly until the bean pastes become shiny. Refrigerate for 1 hour.