Page 16 - YunnanTourismCultureTimes (107)

15 FOOD | 好吃
Savor the piping hot glutinous treats
By our staff correspondents
As the weather turns chilly,
enjoying glutinous foods is be-
lieved to warm the body and
soothe the mind. Since ancient
times, there has been a folk cus-
tom in China of eating glutinous
food during the Major Cold solar
term. Glutinous rice is known
for its warming properties and
sweet flavor, offering benefits
such as nourishing the body,
enriching the blood, invigorating
the spleen, and warming the
stomach. The ancients believed
that consuming glutinous rice in
the cold winter could help dispel
chill and provide warmth. Gluti-
nous rice dishes are well-loved
delicacies among the people of
Yunnan. In this issue, let’s ex-
plore the piping hot glutinous
treats that are cherished by the
people of Yunnan.
岁末天寒时，食糯暖身心。中国
民间自古就有大寒节气“食糯”的习
俗——糯米性温、味甘，有补虚补血、
健脾暖胃的作用。古人认为在寒冷的
冬天食用糯米可以驱寒保暖，而糯米
制品对云南人民来说是再熟悉不过的
美食了。本期，我们一起看看属于云
南人的“糯叽叽”。
来一口热乎的“糯叽叽”
□ 本刊综合
dient, which is soaked, dyed, and steamed flavor lends it an irresistible allure.
using natural plants like indigo leaves, The production process of glutinous rice
turmeric, and isatis root. With hues of blue, blood sausage is quite meticulous. Fresh
red, purple, yellow, and black, these seven pig blood must be carefully selected and
colors create a “rainbow” on the palate. Af- then skillfully mixed with plump glutinous
ter steaming, the rice grains become crystal
rice. Next, seasonings such as salt, tsaoko
clear and exude a distinctive herbal fra- fruit powder, and pepper powder are added
grance, prompting people to exclaim, “What and mixed well before being stuffed into
a delightful way to enjoy glutinous food!” cleaned pig intestines, which are then se-
curely tied at both ends with string. Once
Triangular-shaped baba cooked, the glutinous rice blood sausage
showcases a round and smooth appearance.
三尖角粑粑 When cut open, the glutinous rice reveals a
crystal-clear texture. A light bite reveals the
The triangular-shaped baba is a steamed perfect combination of the glutinous rice’s
delicacy created by wrapping various fill- chewiness and the fresh fragrance of the pig
ings in rice dough. Resembling a water cal-
trop, it features a thin skin and a generous blood. The rich, layered flavor leaves a last-
amount of filling. This treat is deliciously ing aftertaste, making it irresistible.
sweet, with a soft texture that is glutinous
without being greasy. It is a well-known tra-
ditional delicacy in Pu’er City.
To make the triangular-shaped baba, start
by mixing high-quality glutinous rice and Soybean powder-
regular rice in a 3:1 ratio, and then grind wrapped tangyuan
them into rice milk for later use. Next, take
a small portion of the rice milk and cook it 豆沫汤圆
to create rice milk lumps. Incorporate these During the chilly winter, enjoying a bowl
lumps back into the remaining rice milk to of tangyuan (glutinous rice dumplings)
form a pliable dough. Then, wrap the dough dusted with soybean powder has become a
around fillings like brown sugar, peanuts, cherished ritual for many people in Yuxi. Layered steamed baba
and sesame seeds, shaping it into a triangle The soybean powder-wrapped tangyu- cake
using three fingers. Place the shaped baba an features simple fillings. Just knead the
in a steamer, and they will be ready in about tangyuan dough thoroughly, roll it into 千层蒸糕粑粑
15 minutes. small balls, and drop them into boiling wa-
Take a bite while it’s piping hot, and let ter. Once they float to the surface, coat them Enjoying a steaming layered baba cake
the sweet filling melt in your mouth. It is with crispy, fragrant soybean powder, and during festivals is an essential tradition
glutinous and soft, with a delightful sweet- drizzle with delicious maltose syrup. among the local people of Wenshan Zhuang
ness and a rich, fragrant aroma that invigor- and Miao Autonomous Prefecture. It is be-
Take a bite while it's still hot, and you’ll lieved that each bite of this delicacy brings
ates the senses. experience the delightful blend of the rich
soybean powder and the sweet tangyuan. progress in your studies, career, or any other
endeavor.
The dish offers a robust rice fragrance, with To make the steamed baba cake, start
a glutinous and soft texture that is pleasant-
by grinding glutinous rice into rice flour,
ly sweet, leaving a lingering aftertaste. then add the appropriate amount of water
and sift it for later use. There are a few key
steps for layering the cake in the pot. First,
spread a layer of dyed red glutinous rice at
the bottom of the pot to prevent the baba
from sticking. Once the steam rises from the
steamer, evenly sprinkle the first layer of
rice flour on top. After steaming for about
5 minutes, add brown sugar and cover the
pot. Repeat this process two more times.
Pingbian colored Just before removing the cake from the pot,
sprinkle another layer of brown sugar. Once
glutinous rice the brown sugar has melted, add ingredi-
屏边花米饭 Glutinous rice blood ents like sesame seeds, and your delicious
steamed baba cake will be ready to enjoy.
A bowl of the colorful Pingbian color- sausage The freshly steamed baba cake has a glu-
ed glutinous rice is a traditional delicacy tinous, soft texture and a delightful aroma.
loved by the local people in Pingbian Miao 糯米血肠 By stretching a piece of thread, you can eas-
Autonomous County, Honghe Hani and Yi The glutinous rice blood sausage is a ily cut the baba cake into individual pieces.
Autonomous Prefecture. must-have delicacy during the Spring Fes- Taking a bite reveals the perfect balance of
The colorful glutinous rice is made from tival for Yi families in Zhujie Yi Township, sweetness, bringing a delightful sense of
premium glutinous rice as the main ingre- Changning County, Baoshan City. Its unique happiness.