Lo mai chi

Lo Mai Chi

Lo Mai Chi is a popular Cantonese dessert that originated in Hong Kong. It is a sticky rice dumpling filled with sweet ingredients such as red bean paste, lotus seed paste, or black sesame paste. The dumpling is then wrapped in a lotus leaf and steamed to perfection.

Ingredients

To make Lo Mai Chi, you will need the following ingredients:

• Glutinous rice
• Red bean paste, lotus seed paste, or black sesame paste
• Lotus leaves

Preparation

1. Soak the glutinous rice in water for at least 4 hours or overnight. 2. Drain the rice and steam it for about 30 minutes until it becomes soft and sticky. 3. While the rice is steaming, prepare the filling by shaping the red bean paste, lotus seed paste, or black sesame paste into small balls. 4. Once the rice is cooked, remove it from the steamer and let it cool slightly. 5. Take a small portion of the sticky rice and flatten it in your palm. 6. Place a ball of filling in the center of the rice and wrap the rice around it, forming a dumpling shape. 7. Repeat the process until all the rice and filling are used. 8. Rinse the lotus leaves and cut them into square pieces. 9. Place each dumpling on a lotus leaf and fold the leaf to enclose the dumpling. 10. Secure the leaf with a toothpick or kitchen twine. 11. Steam the wrapped dumplings for about 20-25 minutes until the filling is heated through.

Serving

Lo Mai Chi is typically served hot as a dessert or snack. The lotus leaf adds a unique aroma to the dumplings, enhancing the overall flavor. It is often enjoyed with a cup of Chinese tea.

Variations

While the traditional Lo Mai Chi is filled with red bean paste, lotus seed paste, or black sesame paste, there are also variations that incorporate other ingredients such as peanuts, coconut, or even savory fillings like BBQ pork.

See Also

• Cantonese cuisine
• Dim Sum
• Chinese desserts