from Asian Vegetables: Gardening. Cooking. Storytelling
This dish, popular in the south of China, is commonly eaten for lunch or dinner because it is a whole meal in itself. It can be prepared with a variety of ingredients, and its quick and easy to make. Try it and see how a nice, hot sticky rice dish can be comforting and satisfying.
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4-6
Ingredients
1 tbsp (15 mL) vegetable oil
1 yellow onion, diced
2 cloves of garlic, minced
2 to 3 very thin slices of fresh ginger
1 tsp (5 mL) five spice powder
½ lb (250 g) bacon, chopped into ½-inch (1 cm) pieces
1 carrot, cut into half circles
4 cups (1 L) bok choy, cut widthwise into ½-inch (1 cm) pieces
2 cups (500 mL) uncooked sticky rice, rinsed and drained
½ tsp (2 mL) salt
Ground black pepper, to taste
3 cups (750 mL) hot water
2 green onions, green and white parts, thinly sliced
Directions
In a large frying pan over medium heat, heat the oil. Add the onion, garlic and ginger. Stir in the five spice powder and bacon. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the bacon is browned.
Add the carrot and then the bok choy. Cook, stirring rapidly, for 20 seconds, or until the colour of the bok choy becomes more vivid.
Add the rice and stir well. Add the salt, pepper and water. Reduce the heat to very low, cover, and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the water has been absorbed and the rice is tender. If needed, add a bit more water while cooking.
Stir in the green onions, and then season to taste.
Notes and Variations:
- The bok choy can be replaced with any other leafy green.
- The bacon can be replaced with sausage, pork belly, chicken, tempeh, seitan, or soy-marinated tofu.
- For more flavour, add mushrooms or replace the water with stock.
- If you don’t have sticky rice or want to make a lighter dish, you can use a short-grain rice such as Arborio.
- This recipe was initially made with pork belly, which is not as widely available as bacon. Pork belly is the cut used in the famous Cantonese roast pork belly dish.
Nada’s Tips & Tricks: A filling and easy dish to make for a quick dinner or a side to your next meal. Pork belly is the best but bacon is equally tasty.
From Asian Vegetables: Gardening. Cooking. Storytelling. by Stéphanie Wang, Caroline Wang, and Patricia Ho-Yi Wang. Translated by J.C. Sutcliffe. ©2023 Stéphanie Wang, Caroline Wang, and Patricia Ho-Yi Wang. Photography by Virginie Gosselin. Published by House of Anansi Press www.houseofanansi.com
