Yam Gourds

Yam Gourds

　　Ingredients: 150g peeled yam, 100g wheat starch, lard, white sugar, spinach juice, cocoa powder, red amaranth juice, etc., as needed. Seasonings: 100g red bean paste. Preparation method: Steaming. Cut the yam into thick slices, steam them until soft, mash into a paste, and then steam until fully cooked. While still hot, mix in the wheat starch, knead evenly to form a yam dough, then add lard and white sugar and knead until smooth. Shape the dough into small portions, wrap in the red bean paste, and mold into the shape of gourds. Use red amaranth juice mixed into wheat starch to create a red dough, then roll the red dough into thin threads to decorate the middle of the gourds as “ribbons.” Mix a small amount of wheat starch with spinach juice, knead evenly to make a leaf-green dough, and shape into “leaves.” Knead cocoa powder into the dough to make it brown and shape it into leaf stems, arranging them on a plate. Steam in a steamer basket until done. Flavor profile: Resembling gourds, soft and translucent, sweet and fragrant. Technical tips: When steaming the yam, it’s best to cover it with plastic wrap to prevent water vapor from dripping onto it. (Guiyang)