Bamboo-Wrapped Savory Pork Zongzi
Fragrant pyramids of glutinous rice wrapped in aromatic bamboo leaves, concealing a treasure trove of braised pork belly, salted egg yolk, shiitake mushrooms, and dried shrimp. Unwrapping a zongzi is a ritual — the leaves peel back to reveal glossy, deeply seasoned sticky rice with a rich, meaty heart that is worth every minute of the slow steam.
Ingredients
- 3 cups glutinous rice, soaked overnight
- 20 dried bamboo leaves, soaked in warm water for 2 hours
- 1/2 lb pork belly, cut into 10 thick cubes
- 5 salted duck egg yolks, halved
+ 12 more ingredients
Instructions
Drain the soaked glutinous rice and toss it with 1 tablespoon of soy sauce, 1/2 tablespoon of dark soy sauce, a pinch of five-spice powder, and salt. Set aside.
Marinate the pork belly cubes in the remaining soy sauce, dark soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, five-spice powder, white pepper, and sugar for at least 30 minutes.
Heat the vegetable oil in a wok and fry the sliced shallots until golden and fragrant. Add the soaked dried shrimp and mushroom halves, toss for 2 minutes, and set aside.
Drain the bamboo leaves and pat them dry. Take two leaves and overlap them slightly, then fold into a cone shape by curling the wide end into a pointed funnel.
Spoon 2 tablespoons of seasoned rice into the cone, then add a piece of marinated pork belly, half a salted egg yolk, a mushroom half, and a few dried shrimp.
Top with 2 more tablespoons of rice, pressing down gently to pack it in. Fold the remaining leaf over the top to enclose the filling completely, forming a tight pyramid or rectangular shape.
Tie securely with kitchen twine, wrapping at least twice around each zongzi so they hold together during the long cook.
Place the wrapped zongzi in a large pot, cover completely with water, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a steady simmer and cook for 2.5 to 3 hours, adding more hot water as needed to keep them submerged.
Remove from the water and let rest for 10 minutes before unwrapping. Serve with a drizzle of soy sauce or sweet chili sauce if desired.
Nutrition Estimate
Per serving • Estimated by Blinner AI