Pea glutinous rice

Pea glutinous rice

　　Perhaps due to the region's prosperity, the people of Yuhang are quite particular about food. In April and May, their seasonal delicacies include not only black glutinous rice but also another mouthwatering dish—pea glutinous rice.

　　　　As the name suggests, the main ingredients of pea glutinous rice are freshly harvested tender peas in April and clean white glutinous rice. Since peas are also a short-season vegetable, those available at this time are crisp and sweet. Even before it’s fully prepared, just imagine the vibrant green peas mingling with the snowy white glutinous rice—it’s bound to be a refreshing and delightful sight. For those who pay extra attention to detail, a bit of diced mushrooms might also be added. To enhance the aroma, streaky cured pork is a must—after all, the old folks in Yuhang used to say, “Nothing beats something with four legs,” meaning dishes taste better with a bit of meat. And why choose streaky over lean? Because all-lean cured pork lacks fat, making it less flavorful and enjoyable to chew.

　　　　Once the ingredients are ready, you can start cooking. The process for making pea glutinous rice is actually very simple: just add water and then—three words—“cook everything together!” For a more refined version, some will first stir-fry the cured pork to render out the fat (which, from a health perspective, not only makes the pork more aromatic but also prevents the final dish from being too greasy when mixed with the glutinous rice). Then, bring water to a boil, add the rinsed glutinous rice, followed by the cured pork cubes, a small amount of the rendered fat, and the peas—all added together. Nowadays, most households use electric rice cookers, so once the water boils, turn off the heat, transfer everything to the cooker, and in about half an hour, your meal is ready.

　　　　Describing the finished pea glutinous rice as “mouthwatering” is no exaggeration. Visually alone, it far outshines the dark-colored black glutinous rice. The pearl-like glossy glutinous rice is studded with jade-green peas, accented with streaks of pinkish cured pork and dark brown mushroom bits. When eaten, it’s soft, sticky, and fragrant—an truly rare and delicious treat.