Eight-Treasure Puddings

Serves: 4

Ally Shanahan

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

59

Spice

54

Sweetness

61

Sourness

44

mins

Prep time (avg)

5.3

Difficulty

Ingredients:

1 tsp

Peanut

3.5 cups

Water (cold)

Directions:

1

Rinse rice in a large sieve under cold running water until water runs clear, then drain

2

Combine rice, oil, and 2 cups cold water in cake pan

3

Put 1/2 inch of water in a 12-inch-wide pot or deep skillet

4

Set a metal rack (or a few metal cookie cutters) in bottom of pot, then set cake pan (with rice) on rack and bring water to a boil

5

Cover pot and steam over high heat, checking water level occasionally and adding more water if necessary, until rice is cooked, about 40 minutes

6

Carefully remove pan and cool to room temperature

7

Meanwhile, bring remaining 1 1/2 cups cold water to a boil in a 2-quart heavy saucepan with rock sugar, jujubes, prunes, apricots, cherries, and orange peel, then reduce heat and simmer, covered, until fruit is very soft and liquid is reduced to 3/4 cup, about 45 minutes

8

Stir in walnuts and simmer 1 minute

9

Immediately drain in a medium-mesh sieve set over a bowl, reserving syrup and fruit separately

10

Remove walnuts from fruit and set aside

11

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F

12

3Lightly oil custard cups and a 1/3-cup measure

13

Put 1 walnut half in bottom of each cup, then spoon 2 tablespoons mixed fruit (per cup) on top, spreading evenly around bottom of each cup

14

Drizzle 1 teaspoon reserved fruit syrup over fruit in each cup, then press 1/3 cup rice (per cup) on top of fruit with dampened fingertips

15

Using your fingertips or back of a small spoon, make a small indentation in rice and fill with 1 teaspoon red beans (per cup), leaving at least a 1/2-inch border of rice

16

Drizzle 1 teaspoon fruit syrup over each rice pudding, then cover with 2 tablespoons rice (dip measuring spoon in water before measuring rice to prevent sticking)

17

Using a small piece of plastic wrap, press rice in cups to flatten surface

18

Discard wrap

19

Arrange cups in roasting pan

20

Oil a sheet of heavy-duty foil, then cover pan with foil (oiled side down) and seal tightly

21

Bake in a water bath 1 hour, then let stand, covered, 5 minutes

22

Run a knife around edge of each cup to loosen rice, then invert each pudding onto a dish

23

Drizzle with remaining fruit syrup

24

Rinse rice in a large sieve under cold running water until water runs clear, then drain

25

Combine rice, oil, and 2 cups cold water in cake pan

26

Put 1/2 inch of water in a 12-inch-wide pot or deep skillet

27

Set a metal rack (or a few metal cookie cutters) in bottom of pot, then set cake pan (with rice) on rack and bring water to a boil

28

Cover pot and steam over high heat, checking water level occasionally and adding more water if necessary, until rice is cooked, about 40 minutes

29

Carefully remove pan and cool to room temperature

30

Meanwhile, bring remaining 1 1/2 cups cold water to a boil in a 2-quart heavy saucepan with rock sugar, jujubes, prunes, apricots, cherries, and orange peel, then reduce heat and simmer, covered, until fruit is very soft and liquid is reduced to 3/4 cup, about 45 minutes

31

Stir in walnuts and simmer 1 minute

32

Immediately drain in a medium-mesh sieve set over a bowl, reserving syrup and fruit separately

33

Remove walnuts from fruit and set aside

34

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F

35

3Lightly oil custard cups and a 1/3-cup measure

36

Put 1 walnut half in bottom of each cup, then spoon 2 tablespoons mixed fruit (per cup) on top, spreading evenly around bottom of each cup

37

Drizzle 1 teaspoon reserved fruit syrup over fruit in each cup, then press 1/3 cup rice (per cup) on top of fruit with dampened fingertips

38

Using your fingertips or back of a small spoon, make a small indentation in rice and fill with 1 teaspoon red beans (per cup), leaving at least a 1/2-inch border of rice

39

Drizzle 1 teaspoon fruit syrup over each rice pudding, then cover with 2 tablespoons rice (dip measuring spoon in water before measuring rice to prevent sticking)

40

Using a small piece of plastic wrap, press rice in cups to flatten surface

41

Discard wrap

42

Arrange cups in roasting pan

43

Oil a sheet of heavy-duty foil, then cover pan with foil (oiled side down) and seal tightly

44

Bake in a water bath 1 hour, then let stand, covered, 5 minutes

45

Run a knife around edge of each cup to loosen rice, then invert each pudding onto a dish

46

Drizzle with remaining fruit syrup