Vietnamese Rice Cakes In Banana Leaves

Serves: 4

Carolyne Schoen

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

51

Spice

50

Sweetness

45

Sourness

40

mins

Prep time (avg)

5.3

Difficulty

Ingredients:

1 tsp

Salt

1.5 tbsps

Fish Sauce

1.5 tbsps

Vegetable Oil

Directions:

1

Place the sticky rice in a large bowl and cover it with 3 inches of water

2

Stir in the food coloring, if using, and let the rice soak overnight

3

(Once soaked, the rice will double to about 4 cups

4

) In a separate bowl, soak the mung beans for at least 4 hours

5

Drain both just before using and set aside in separate bowls

6

Add the salt to the rice and stir to blend

7

Combine the shallots, fish sauce, black pepper and pork pieces and let marinate for 30 minutes

8

Heat the oil in a frying pan over moderate heat

9

Add the pork pieces and all the marinade and stir just until the meat is brown around the edges, about 3 to 4 minutes

10

Remove the pan from the heat and set aside

11

Using a steamer basket, steam the mung beans until they are soft, about 10 minutes

12

Remove from the heat and set aside

13

To make the packet, neatly lay down the wrappers in this order: 1 sheet of plastic wrap (leave the other for use later), the aluminum foil, 2 sheets banana leaves (one perpendicular to the other)

14

Place one cup of the rice in the center of the banana leaf, spreading it to cover a 5-inch square

15

Place half of the mung beans on top, then add the pork pieces

16

Cover with the remaining mung beans and place 1 cup of rice on top

17

Bring the narrow sides of the wrappers together

18

Fold the gathered edges over twice, then flatten against the packet

19

(You now have two open ends

20

) Fold one end over and hold the packet upright

21

Add half of the remaining rice, tapping it and pushing it down so the packet will be an even square

22

Fold the end over and repeat on the other side

23

Place the packet with the folded sides down in the center of the remaining plastic sheet

24

Wrap tightly so that water will not seep into the packet during cooking

25

Tightly tie the packet with two parallel strings in both directions (as in a tic-tac-toe pattern)

26

Fill a large stockpot with water

27

Add the packet and bring to a boil

28

Reduce the heat to a simmer

29

Place a colander or something heavy on top of the packet to keep it submerged in the water

30

Cook uncovered until done, about 6 hours, adding more water if necessary

31

Remove from the heat and set aside to cool for 1 hour

32

To serve, cut the packet (without unwrapping) into 1/2-inch slices

33

Remove the wrapping and arrange the slices on a serving plate

34

Serve warm or at room temperature

35

If wrapped in plastic and refrigerated, the cake will keep for 1 week

36

Place the sticky rice in a large bowl and cover it with 3 inches of water

37

Stir in the food coloring, if using, and let the rice soak overnight

38

(Once soaked, the rice will double to about 4 cups

39

) In a separate bowl, soak the mung beans for at least 4 hours

40

Drain both just before using and set aside in separate bowls

41

Add the salt to the rice and stir to blend

42

Combine the shallots, fish sauce, black pepper and pork pieces and let marinate for 30 minutes

43

Heat the oil in a frying pan over moderate heat

44

Add the pork pieces and all the marinade and stir just until the meat is brown around the edges, about 3 to 4 minutes

45

Remove the pan from the heat and set aside

46

Using a steamer basket, steam the mung beans until they are soft, about 10 minutes

47

Remove from the heat and set aside

48

To make the packet, neatly lay down the wrappers in this order: 1 sheet of plastic wrap (leave the other for use later), the aluminum foil, 2 sheets banana leaves (one perpendicular to the other)

49

Place one cup of the rice in the center of the banana leaf, spreading it to cover a 5-inch square

50

Place half of the mung beans on top, then add the pork pieces

51

Cover with the remaining mung beans and place 1 cup of rice on top

52

Bring the narrow sides of the wrappers together

53

Fold the gathered edges over twice, then flatten against the packet

54

(You now have two open ends

55

) Fold one end over and hold the packet upright

56

Add half of the remaining rice, tapping it and pushing it down so the packet will be an even square

57

Fold the end over and repeat on the other side

58

Place the packet with the folded sides down in the center of the remaining plastic sheet

59

Wrap tightly so that water will not seep into the packet during cooking

60

Tightly tie the packet with two parallel strings in both directions (as in a tic-tac-toe pattern)

61

Fill a large stockpot with water

62

Add the packet and bring to a boil

63

Reduce the heat to a simmer

64

Place a colander or something heavy on top of the packet to keep it submerged in the water

65

Cook uncovered until done, about 6 hours, adding more water if necessary

66

Remove from the heat and set aside to cool for 1 hour

67

To serve, cut the packet (without unwrapping) into 1/2-inch slices

68

Remove the wrapping and arrange the slices on a serving plate

69

Serve warm or at room temperature

70

If wrapped in plastic and refrigerated, the cake will keep for 1 week