Teresa's Recipes
Eight Treasure Rice
Eight Treasure Rice, known as 'Ba Bao Fan' in Mandarin, is a delightful and visually stunning traditional Chinese dessert that represents prosperity and good fortune. This dish is made from glutinous rice, harmoniously combined with eight different fruits and nuts, making every bite a celebration of textures and flavors. Perfect for festive occasions or family gatherings, it is not only delicious but also symbolizes abundance and happiness in Chinese culture.
Ingredients
- 2 cups Glutinous rice
- 4 cups (for cooking rice) Water
- 1 cup Red bean paste
- 1/2 cup Sugar
- 1/4 cup, chopped Candied cherries
- 1/4 cup, chopped Candied winter melon
- 1/4 cup, chopped Almonds
- 1/4 cup, chopped Walnuts
- 1/4 cup, soaked Lotus seeds
- 1/4 cup, soaked Red jujubes
- for soaking fruits and nuts Water
Dietary Notes
- Servings: 8
- Dish Type: Dessert
- Prep Time: 4 hours (soaking) + 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Calories: 290
- Fat: 7g
- Carbs: 53g
- Protein: 6g
- Sodium: 5mg
- Sugar: 25g
Instructions
- Soak the glutinous rice in water for 4 hours, then drain thoroughly.
- In a rice cooker, cook the soaked glutinous rice with 4 cups of water until the rice is tender.
- While the rice is cooking, prepare the eight treasures: soak the red jujubes, lotus seeds, walnuts, almonds, candied winter melon, and candied cherries in warm water for 30 minutes, then drain and chop as needed.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked rice with the sugar and red bean paste, mixing well until evenly incorporated.
- Select a round cake pan and arrange the eight treasures in a decorative pattern on the bottom. This will create a beautiful presentation when the rice is turned out.
- Spoon the rice mixture into the cake pan, pressing it down firmly to ensure it holds together.
- Prepare a steamer and steam the rice for 1 hour over high heat. Ensure the water does not run dry during steaming.
- Once steamed, remove from heat and allow the rice to cool completely in the pan before carefully turning it out onto a serving plate.
- Serve at room temperature and enjoy this sweet and festive treat!
Tips
- Feel free to customize the eight treasures by using other dried fruits or nuts that you enjoy.
- For a richer flavor, you can add a dash of vanilla extract to the rice mixture.