IMBB7: You're Just the Cutest Little Dumpling!

Can you believe it? We’re already on to our 7th edition of IMBB – the distributed “cook-blog-athon” that was inspired and initiated by Alberto, and which, in its latest incarnation, is hosted by Jarrett.

I so very much wanted to take part in this particular edition. For those of you who have been faithfully (ahem! ) and closely following this blog, it would have been obvious that I love dumplings – all kinds of dumplings really, but with an especially soft spot for all the different Chinese varieties. When I found out (just a few days ago) that the topic of today’s IMBB was dumplings, I gave a little whoop of delight. Now, that is something I don’t mind cooking. Unfortunately, having just gotten home last weekend after 3½ weeks away, I’ve had little time this past week to cook in any meaningful manner – what with the huge backlog of work and mail to plough through, and also just trying to get my life back to being “ordinary” again after the emotionally challenging events of the past month. So, despite all well-meaning intentions, no dumplings got made in my kitchen this week.

However, in the spirit of fun and sharing that is IMBB, I would still like to share an old post… a Chinese dumpling that is a dumpling and yet not a dumpling in the more popular sense of Chinese dumplings. This is the glutinous rice dumpling that is traditionally eaten in celebration of Duan Wu Jie (Dumpling Festival or Dragon Boat Festival); rather distinct from other well-known Chinese dumplings like shui jiao (boiled dumplings in soup), xiao long bao (steamed dumplings filled with meat and soup) and guotie (panfried dumplings).

While they may not win many points in the “cuteness” pageant – being, as they are, more earthy, strong, solid and stoic in stature – I really enjoy glutinous rice dumplings or zhong zhi, and I especially love our family’s own “unique” version that my mum and I make but once a year, during the Dumpling Festival. Here is the write-up for this year’s marathon dumpling making session, which took place back in June...

For the Love of a Poet

And if you would like to see a couple of other varieties of these glutinous rice dumplings (albeit not home-made)…

A Spicy Nonya Lady Dressed in Green Mighty Meaty Beany Dumpling

Enjoy!

Copyright © 2004 Renee Kho. All Rights Reserved.
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