Zongzi Bamboo Wrapped Dumplings — A traditional Chinese Food in Dragon Boat Festival
Each region of China has its own special form of zongzi. For example, in southern China you will find pork soaked in soy sauce or bean paste in the middle of the glutinous rice. Meanwhile, Beijing zongzi is often made with dried dates. Other types of fillings include mashed red beans, egg, and poultry. There is also plain zongzi, made only with glutinous rice and designed to be eaten with honey or sugar. Zongzi can be many shapes, but the most common shape is pyramidal or triangular.
Making zongzi is a difficult proposition. Even experienced Chinese cooks find it a challenge to manipulate the bamboo leaves into a funnel shape and place the rice inside. But if you want to try, here are three recipes to help you celebrate this truly unique event.
Ingredients:
- 50 sheets of bamboo or reed leaves
- Glutinous rice (1 kilogram)
- Chinese dates (250 grams)
Preparation:
1.Soak the rice and the dates 12 hours or more till they are soaked thoroughly.
2.Wash the leaves
3.A chopping board is necessary for laying out the leaves.
4.Fold the leaves flat at the leafstalk to make a sheet.
Dragon Boat Festival is one of the major holidays in Chinese culture. This summer festival was originally a time to ward off bad spirits, but Dragon Boat Festival is now a celebration of the life of Qu Yuan, a Chinese Poet.
