Colorful Eight-Treasure Glutinous Rice

Colorful Eight-Treasure Glutinous Rice

　　Aside from sweet treats made with glutinous rice such as water zongzi and red bean paste fried pastries, there is also the delicious Eight-Treasure Sweet Glutinous Rice.

　　This sweet glutinous rice dish is often served during New Year’s Eve dinners in southern provinces. However, it has not been seen in Cantonese-style reunion dinners. But this sweet, soft rice, accompanied by lotus seeds, red dates, apricot preserves, raisins, and even dried cherries, featuring a mix of red, green, and white hues that catch the eye and instantly whet the appetite. Eating it spoonful by spoonful is truly a delightful experience.

　　During festivals and holidays, one often ends up too full from dishes like braised shark’s fin with crab roe, crab meat lion’s head meatballs, Longjing shrimp, “Prosperity and Good Fortune” (a Cantonese dish symbolizing good luck), and grilled shad on a hot iron plate. Even if you want to have a couple more spoonfuls of the Eight-Treasure Glutinous Rice, your stomach starts sending refusal signals. You can only ask the chef before leaving to teach you how to make it:

　　The “Eight Treasures” refer to dried fruits or canned items. In addition to the previously mentioned apricot preserves and red dates, you can also use whatever is locally available—such as pineapple, candied kumquats, or honey peaches. The main ingredient is glutinous rice, which should be soaked in water for three hours and then drained. Add an appropriate amount of water—not too much—until it becomes soft and mushy, then cook and steam until fully done. Soak the dried fruits first to soften them and remove any pits. Take out the cooked glutinous rice, mix in an appropriate amount of sugar and oil. Apply a small amount of oil to the bottom and sides of the bowl, arrange the Eight Treasure ingredients at the base of the bowl. Add the glutinous rice, and press lotus seed paste into the center. Steam it in a steamer over boiling water for seven minutes, then remove and invert it onto a plate to create a colorful Eight-Treasure Glutinous Rice dish.