Zongzi is a classic Chinese sticky rice dumpling. This sticky rice dumpling recipe has both stove top and instant pot methods. Also, it has a video to show you how to wrap traditional Cantonese sticky rice dumplings.
Love authentic food? Check out these pan fried dumplings, soy sauce chicken wings and red bean soup recipes.
What is sticky rice dumpling?
Chinese sticky rice dumpling also called zongzi (粽子) in mandarin and zong (糭) in Cantonese. It is made of glutinous rice stuffed with fillings and wrapped with bamboo leaves.
Besides, in different regions people make sticky rice dumplings slightly different. This Chinese rice sticky dumpling recipe is my family Cantonese zongzi recipe.
In addition, I have noticed different cultures have something similar to sticky rice dumpling, but they all named them differently.
When do people eat zongzi?
Traditionally, it is eaten during duanwu jie (端午節), dragon boat festival, which is on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar. It’s a festival to commemorate the death of Qu Yuan (屈原) who was a Chinese poet.
What is the difference between zongzi and lo mai gai?
They are very similar. In general zongzi is wrapped with bamboo leaves and tightened with a string, then boiled in water. However, lo mai gai wrap in lotus leaves and steam in a bamboo basket. The filling is a little different and will depend which regions and what you like to eat.
What are the ingredients for zongzi?
This Chinese rice dumpling recipe, the main ingredients are bamboo leaves, glutinous rice, pork, split mung beans, dried Chinese mushrooms, dried small shrimp, salted egg yolk. As I mentioned before, different areas people like to use different ingredients for the filing. You add or use other ingredients for filing. This can make around 30 sticky rice dumplings. You can half the amount if you want to make less.
Cooking tips for how to make Chinese sticky rice dumplings:
Bamboo leaves:
- Wash and soak bamboo leaves in water for 45 minutes to an hour until it's soft. Some people like to boil them to clean it before wrapping.
Rice:
- Soak glutinous rice for at least an hour. I normally soak for a couple hours. Then, drain the water well. Add salt and vegetable oil and mix it.
Filing:
- Wash and soak split mung beans for 30 minutes to an hour.
- Soak dried small shrimp for 15 minutes.
- Dried mushrooms wash and soak it for 4-6 hours until it’s soft. (I normally soak them the day before I need to use them).
- Marinate pork for at least 15 minutes. The best to marinate it overnight.
- Salted egg yolk cut it half or quarter or as a whole depends on your preference.
- Boiling zongzi for 1.5-2 hours if using a top stove method.
- If you use instant pot Manuel 45 minutes at high pressure and natural release.
FAQs:
What kind of pork do you use?
Most people like to use pork with some fat or pork belly. Personally, I like lean pork because it's healthier.
How do you cook frozen sticky rice dumplings?
You can boil zongzi for 10-15 minutes in a pot. It takes around 25-30 minutes to steam them. Or, put zongzi and a cup of water into an instant pot, then manual for 5 minutes at high pressure and natural release.
How to store extra zongzi?
You can refrigerate them for 3-4 days or freeze them for a few months or up. I like to make more and freeze them, so I don't need to make them often because there are a lot of preparation work.
How to wrap sticky rice dumplings?
There are few different ways to wrap it. Some people like to wrap them like a triangle or rectangle shape. See the video for how to wrap rice dumplings.
Instructions for how to make instant pot sticky rice dumplings:
Preparation work:
1. First, wash and soak a pack of dried bamboo leaves (it's around 90 leaves) in water for 45 minutes to an hour until it's soft.
2. Next, soak 10 cups of glutinous rice in a bowl for at least an hour. I normally soak it for 2 hours.
3. After that, soak 5 large dried mushrooms for 4-6 hours until it's soft. (Most of the time, I soak it the night before I use it.)
4. The following, wash and soak 1 cup of dried small shrimp for 15 minutes. Drain well and set aside.
5. Also, wash and soak a small bag split mung beans (10.58 oz or 300 g) for 30-45 minutes.
Marinate ingredients:
6. After soaking dried mushrooms, slice the soaked mushrooms into strips.
7. Put the sliced mushrooms in a bowl, add 2 tablespoons of oyster sauce and 1 tablespoon of sesame oil. Mix it well.
8. After, slice 3 pounds of pork into strips.
9. Marinate pork in a bowl by adding 3 tablespoons oyster sauce, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon sugar and 1 tablespoon shaoxing cooking wine. Mix them well and let it marinate for at least 15 minutes. The best is to marinate it overnight.
10. Drain the water well after soaking glutinous rice. Then, add 1 tablespoon salt and 1 tablespoon vegetable oil. Mix them well.
11. Cut 8 salted egg yolks, each divide into 4 pieces.
12. Cut some strings into length, so it is easier for wrapping the rice dumplings.
Wrapping zongzi:
13. Use 2 soaked bamboo leaves to fold them into a shape that can hold. Then, add some soaked glutinous rice, some soaked split mung beans, 1-2 pieces of marinated mushrooms, some soaked dried small shrimp, 1-2 pieces of marinated pork, 1 piece of salted egg yolk and cover some soaked glutinous rice.
14. After that, add a bamboo leaf and wrap them. Next, use a cut up string to tighten it. See detail in the video for how to wrap zongzi.
Instant pot sticky rice dumplings:
15. Put the wrapped sticky rice dumplings into an instant pot and fill up water about 85-90% to cover the rice dumplings. Close the lid and vent, push the manual button, adjust time to 45 minutes at high pressure and natural release.
Enjoy this Chinese rice dumpling recipe! Also, check out these Chinese mushroom chicken, pickled mustard greens and tomato egg stir fry recipes.
Instructions for how to make sticky rice dumplings using top stove method:
Preparation work:
1.Wash and soak a pack of dried bamboo leaves (it's around 90 leaves) in water for 45 minutes to an hour until it's soft.
2. Soak 10 cups of glutinous rice in a bowl for at least an hour. I normally soak it for 2 hours.
3. After that, soak 5 large dried mushrooms for 4-6 hours until it's soft. (Most of the time, I soak it the night before I use it.)
4. Next, wash and soak 1 cup of dried small shrimp for 15 minutes. Drain well and set aside.
5. The following, wash and soak a small bag split mung beans (10.58 oz or 300 g) for 30-45 minutes.
Marinate ingredients:
6. Slice the soaked mushrooms into strips.
7. Put the sliced mushrooms in a bowl, add 2 tablespoons of oyster sauce and 1 tablespoon of sesame oil. Mix it well.
8. After, slice 3 pounds of pork into strips.
9. Marinate pork in a bowl by adding 3 tablespoons oyster sauce, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon sugar and 1 tablespoon shaoxing cooking wine. Mix them well and let it marinate for at least 15 minutes. The best is to marinate it overnight.
10. Drain the water well after soaking glutinous rice. Then, add 1 tablespoon salt and 1 tablespoon vegetable oil. Mix them well.
11. Cut 8 salted egg yolks, each divide into 4 pieces.
12. Cut some strings into length, so it is easier for wrapping the rice dumplings.
Wrappind zongzi:
13. Use 2 soaked bamboo leaves to fold them into a shape that can hold. Then, add some soaked glutinous rice, some soaked split mung beans, 1-2 pieces of marinated mushrooms, some soaked dried small shrimp, 1-2 pieces of marinated pork, 1 piece of salted egg yolk and cover some soaked glutinous rice.
14. After that, add a bamboo leaf and wrap them. Next, use a cut up string to tighten it. See detail in the video for how to wrap zongzi.
Boiling zongzi:
15. Put the wrapped sticky rice dumplings into a big pot and fill up water to cover the rice dumplings. Cover the lid and let it boil for 1.5- 2 hours. Remember to add some water in between.
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Sticky Rice Dumpling
Ingredients
- 1 pack Dried bamboo leaves (around 90 leaves)
- 10 cups Glutinous rice
- 5 pieces Dried Chinese mushrooms Large
- 3 pounds Pork
- 1 bag Split mung beans (no skin, 10.58 oz or 300 g)
- 1 cup Dried small shrimp small
- 8 pieces Salted egg yolks
Marinate for the rice:
- 1 tablespoon Salt
- 1 tablespoon Vegetable oil
Marinate for mushrooms:
- 2 tablespoons Oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon Sesame oil
Marinate for pork:
- 3 tablespoons Oyster sauce
- 2 tablespoons Soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Sugar
- 1 tablespoon Shaoxing cooking wine (You can use other cooking wine)
Instructions
Instant Pot Method:
- First, wash and soak a pack of dried bamboo leaves (it’s around 90 leaves) in water for 45 minutes to an hour until it’s soft.
- Next, soak 10 cups of glutinous rice in a bowl for at least an hour. I normally soak it for 2 hours.
- After that, soak 5 large dried mushrooms for 4-6 hours until it’s soft. (Most of the time, I soak it the night before I use it.)
- The following, wash and soak 1 cup of small dried shrimp for 15 minutes. Drain well and set aside.
- Also, wash and soak a small bag split no skin mung bean (10.58 oz or 300 g) for 30-45 minutes.
- After soaking dried mushrooms, slice the soaked mushrooms into strips.
- Put the sliced mushrooms in a bowl, add 2 tablespoons of oyster sauce and 1 tablespoon of sesame oil. Mix it well.
- After, slice 3 pounds of pork into strips.
- Marinate pork in a bowl by adding 3 tablespoons oyster sauce, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon sugar and 1 tablespoon shaoxing cooking wine. Mix them well and let it marinate for at least 15 minutes. The best is to marinate it overnight.
- Drain the water well after soaking glutinous rice. Then, add 1 tablespoon salt and 1 tablespoon vegetable oil. Mix them well.
- Cut 8 salted egg yolks, each divide into 4 pieces.
- Cut some strings into length, so it is easier for wrapping the rice dumplings.
- Use 2 soaked bamboo leaves to fold them into a shape that can hold. Then, add some soaked glutinous rice, some soaked split mung beans, 1-2 pieces of marinated mushrooms, some soaked small dried shrimp, 1-2 pieces of marinated pork, 1 piece of salted egg yolk and cover some soaked glutinous rice.
- After that, add a bamboo leaf and wrap them. Next, use a cut up string to tighten it. See detail in the video for how to wrap zongzi.
- Put the wrapped sticky rice dumplings into an instant pot and fill up water about 85-90% to cover the rice dumplings. Close the lid and vent, push the manual button, adjust time to 45 minutes at high pressure and natural release.
Top Stove Method:
- First, wash and soak a pack of dried bamboo leaves (it’s around 90 leaves) in water for 45 minutes to an hour until it’s soft.
- Next, soak 10 cups of glutinous rice in a bowl for at least an hour. I normally soak it for 2 hours.
- After that, soak 5 large dried mushrooms for 4-6 hours until it’s soft. (Most of the time, I soak it the night before I use it.)
- The following, wash and soak 1 cup of small dried shrimp for 15 minutes. Drain well and set aside.
- Also, wash and soak a small bag split no skin mung bean (10.58 oz or 300 g) for 30-45 minutes.
- After soaking dried mushrooms, slice the soaked mushrooms into strips.
- Put the sliced mushrooms in a bowl, add 2 tablespoons of oyster sauce and 1 tablespoon of sesame oil. Mix it well.
- After, slice 3 pounds of pork into strips.
- Marinate pork in a bowl by adding 3 tablespoons oyster sauce, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon sugar and 1 tablespoon shaoxing cooking wine. Mix them well and let it marinate for at least 15 minutes. The best is to marinate it overnight.
- Drain the water well after soaking glutinous rice. Then, add 1 tablespoon salt and 1 tablespoon vegetable oil. Mix them well.
- Cut 8 salted egg yolks, each divide into 4 pieces.
- Cut some strings into length, so it is easier for wrapping the rice dumplings.
- Use 2 soaked bamboo leaves to fold them into a shape that can hold. Then, add some soaked glutinous rice, some soaked split mung beans, 1-2 pieces of marinated mushrooms, some soaked small dried shrimp, 1-2 pieces of marinated pork, 1 piece of salted egg yolk and cover some soaked glutinous rice.
- After that, add a bamboo leaf and wrap them. Next, use a cut up string to tighten it. See detail in the video for how to wrap zongzi.
- Put the wrapped sticky rice dumplings into a big pot and fill up water to cover the rice dumplings. Cover the lid and let it boil for 1.5- 2 hours. Remember to add some water in between.
Video
Notes
Cooking tips for how to make sticky rice dumplings:
Bamboo leaves:
- Wash and soak bamboo leaves in water for 45 minutes to an hour until it's soft. Some people like to boil them to clean it before wrapping.
Rice:
- Soak glutinous rice for at least an hour. I normally soak for a couple hours. Then, drain the water well. Add salt and vegetable oil and mix it.
Filing:
- Wash and soak split mung beans for 30 minutes to an hour.
- Soak dried small shrimp for 15 minutes.
- Dried mushrooms wash and soak it for 4-6 hours until it’s soft. (I normally soak them the day before I need to use them).
- Marinate pork for at least 15 minutes. The best to marinate it overnight.
- Salted egg yolk cut it half or quarter or as a whole depends on your preference.
- Boiling Zongzi for 1.5-2 hours if using a top stove method.
- If you use instant pot Manuel 45 minutes at high pressure and natural release.
Nutrition