Glutinous Rice Cakes

Glutinous Rice Cakes

　　Glutinous Rice Cakes are a traditional snack from Fengxin. Made primarily from glutinous rice, the finished cakes are golden in color and have a crispy texture. They are an essential food for festivals and celebrations among the people of Fengxin. Today, their production technique has been listed as a provincial-level intangible cultural heritage. The steps for making them are as follows:

　　1. Wash the glutinous rice and soak it in water overnight until it is fully swollen and translucent in color;

　　2. Steam the soaked glutinous rice over high heat for about forty minutes. Once the rice becomes translucent and shiny, switch to low heat to keep it warm;

　　3. Press the cooked glutinous rice into flat rounds about the size of a bowl rim, then stamp a red mark on them to symbolize good fortune;

　　4. Place the formed rice cakes under the sun to dry until all the moisture has completely evaporated;

　　5. Heat oil and fry the rice cakes one by one in the oil. During frying, occasionally press gently on the center of the cake with chopsticks—the cake will rapidly puff up. When it turns golden yellow, remove it, drain the oil, and your Glutinous Rice Cake is ready. After frying, the cakes are usually stored in sealed earthenware jars to maintain their crispy and delicious texture.