Lotus Leaf Sticky Rice (at the dim sum table, call it “hor yip lor mai kai”) blends the Cantonese flavor trinity of Chinese lap cheung sausages, dried shrimp and Shiitake mushrooms.  The lotus leaf imparts a wonderful aroma to the rice.  If you can get fresh lotus leafs the better, otherwise, head to Chinatown and you can get a stack of two dozen dried leaves for like 99 cents.

The same rice filling makes a wonderful thanksgiving turkey stuffing….skip the lotus leaves, of course.

Chef’s tip: Cut off the stem end of the leaves to make the leaves more pliable.  Also, if use a Thai Sticky Rice bamboo steamer to produce the best sticky rice texture.

Ingredients:

6 dried lotus Leaves or six 1 cup-ramekins or small heat-proof bowls

1 1/2 cups sweet glutinous rice, soaked 6 hours
1 Tablespoons peanut oil
1 teaspoon sugar
2 cups chicken stock

2 pieces boneless chicken thigh,trimmed, skinless, cut into ½ inch slices
1 Tablespoon peanut oil
½ Tablespoon oyster sauce
½ Tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon sesame oil

1 tablespoon dried shrimp, soaked and drained
1 Chinese sausage, thinly sliced
6 pieces of fresh Shiitake mushroom, sliced
6 slices of char siu ( 4 oz), thinly sliced
1 clove of garlic, minced
1/4 cup of water
1 sprig green onions, chopped

Preparing the lotus leaves (if using, otherwise, slightly oil 6 ramekins).
1.    Snip off the hard stalks ends of the lotus leaf.  Soak the lotus leaves in hot water until softened.  Cut into 2 if they are large.
Preparing the rice.
2.    Wash the rice and cover with water.  Set aside at least 6 hours to overnight.
3.    Prepare a large pot of water with steamer.  Line steamer with cheesecloth.  Drain rice.  Place rice evenly on the cheesecloth.
4.    Place rice in a steamer over boiling water and steam for 20 minutes.  Transfer rice to a bowl.
5.    Mix the oil, sugar, and stock in a small pot and bring to a boil.  Pour the hot stock into the cooked rice mixture and stir.  Cover with plastic wrap and leave to stand 10-15 minutes.
Preparing the filling
6.    Marinate the chicken with oyster sauce, soy sauce, cornstarch, sugar and sesame oil.
7.    In the wok, heat the oil, fry the dried shrimp and Chinese sausage.  Set to the side of the wok.  Add garlic and saute for half a minute until it becomes light golden then add chicken.  Brown the chicken, about 2 minutes.  (need not be cooked through).
8.   Add mushroom, char siu and toss back the dried shrimp and sausage.
9.    Add ½ cup of water and add to the wok.  Stir until the sauce is thick and glazes the meat.  Remove from heat and toss in the green onions.
Assembling
10.    When rice is done, divide into 12 portions.  Divide the filling into 6 portions.
11.    Place lotus leave flat on a work surface.  Patch any holes with additional leave pieces.
12.    Place 1 portion of rice onto the center of the leave. Make a well in the center.    Place a portion of the filling.  Drizzle in any sauce from the chicken.  Top with another portion of rice.  Pack it tightly to make a small rectangular mass about 3 inch X 2 inch.
13.    Wrap one side of the leaves over the filling, then take the opposite side and overlap like you are folding a business letter into 3.  Then take the left third and fold it under the rice middle.  Repeat with the opposite side.  Place the rice bundle on its folded ends on a steamer.
Steaming
14.    Place lotus parcels in steamer basket over simmering water and steam for 30 minutes. Add water if necessary so that wok is not dried out.

Serves: 6

Tags: Chinese, dim sum, lap cheung, shiitake, sticky rice.

There are so many versions of Chicken in Lettuce Cups. This recipe features the classic trinity of chicken, lap cheung (Chinese wax sausages) and dried shrimp.

Chef’s tip: If you are in the San Francisco Bay Area, get the Wycen lap cheung (Washington/Stockton or Clement/7th) . They make their sausages locally and offer extra lean 100% chicken sausages.

Filling:
½ cup pine nuts, toasted
2 heads iceberg lettuce

1 lb boneless skinless chicken thigh, trimmed of fat and minced
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 Tablespoon oyster sauce
1 Tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon sugar
½ teaspoon sesame oil
½ Tablespoon canola oil

2 Tablespoons canola oil
1 Chinese wax sausage, diced small, ½ inch cubes
1 Tablespoon dried shrimps, soaked, roughly chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tablespoon ginger, grated
2 Tablespoon Shaoxing wine
¼ cup water
10 fresh shiitake mushrooms, diced small, ¼ inch cubes
3 oz waterchestnuts, drained and diced finely,1/8 inch cubes
2 Tablespoons green onions, green and white parts, chopped
2 Tablespoons cilantro, chopped
1 Tablespoon sesame oil

¼ cup hoisin sauce
Cilantro sprigs

Preparing the lettuce
1.    Toast the pine nuts, set aside.
2.    Using a paring knife, cut around the stem core of the lettuce, then carefully separate the lettuce leaves.  Reserve outer leaves for other use.  Use a knife or scissors to cut the inner leaves into rough 4 inch rounds.  Pat leaves dry.  Make 30 cups. Chill.
Preparing the filling
3.    In a food processor, pulse the chicken until it is chopped roughly (or use a cleaver and cutting board to mince).  Marinate the chicken with cornstarch, oyster sauce, soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil and oil.
4.    In the wok, heat ½ Tablespoon oil, fry the Chinese sausage until it has rendered its fat.  Push to the side of the wok or if you are not using a wok, remove to a prep plate. Next, add another ½ Tablespoon oil, fry the dried shrimp with the remaining garlic and ginger and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
5.    Then add the chicken, drizzle the Shaoxing wine around the sides of the wok and stir-fry till it becomes brown and caramelized.  Push chicken to the side of the wok or remove from the pan.
6.    Next, add a little oil if needed, the chopped shiitake, sauté until mushroom is tender, then add toss back the chicken and sausage.
7.    Add ¼ cup of water to the wok.  Stir until the sauce is thick and glazes the meat.
8.    Add the waterchestnut.  Remove from heat, stir in the chopped green onions and cilantro.  Finish with the sesame oil.
Assembling
9.    Brush each lettuce cup with hoisin sauce.
10.    Spoon a heaping Tablespoon of the chicken mixture into the prepared lettuce leaves and sprinkle with pine nuts. Garnish with a sprig of cilantro.

Serves: 30 cups

Tags: Chinese, Chinese sausages, dim sum, finger foods, lap cheung.

Chinese restaurants in America really give the fried rice a bad rep.  It really should be in the same class as paella, risotto, and all the other wonderful one-dish rice meals.

Chef’s tip: Heating a pan before adding oil, will make food stick less to a pan.

Ingredients

Meat:
6 oz small shrimp, shelled, peeled, deveined
3 tablespoons dried shrimp, soaked for 10 minutes
2 Chinese sausage, diced small
4 oz Chinese BBQ, char siu pork, diced small

Vegetables:
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 large yellow onion, sliced thinly

4 Tablespoons canola oil
3 cups cooked jasmine rice, forked to break up lumps
3 Tablespoons soy sauce
1 cup frozen peas

2 red jalapenos red bell pepper, deseeded, diced small
1 sprig green onions, diced

Directions:
1.  Heat a wok on high heat
2.  Add Chinese sausage and sauté for 1 minute till fragrant.  Push to the side of the wok.
3.  Add 1 tablespoon oil, sauté 1 teaspoon garlic with the dried shrimp for 30 seconds, add fresh shrimp and sauté until shrimp turns bright red.  Toss in BBQ pork.  Push to the side of the wok.
4.  Add 2 tablespoons oil, add garlic and onions.  Fry till fragrant and vegetables are tender – about 1 minute.  Toss in sausage, shrimp and pork to mix.
5.  Add cooked rice.  Drizzle in soy sauce.  Stir fry for another two minutes.
6.  Add the peas and toss to mix.
7. Make a well in the middle, add ½ tablespoon oil.  Break in the eggs, let it cook like a sunny side up till firm but still slightly runny, then scramble the eggs into the rice mixture.
8.   Toss in the red jalapeno and green onions.  Serve immediately.

Serves: 6

Tags: Chinese, lap cheung, Rice.