粽子 (zong4 zi) Dumpling

Chinese dumpling 粽子 (zong4 zi) is a traditional delicacy made and eaten during 端午节 （duan1 wu3 jie2). It falls on the 5th of the 5th month in the lunar calendar. They are mostly made from glutinous rice. They come is different sizes and shapes from different region in China.


A smaller version of zong4 zi from a minority race in China.


From this photo you can see besides glutinous rice, there are also pork,mushroom, a duck egg yolk and peanets, which as the common ingredients in making zong4 zi.


Here, red bean is added which is one of my favourite.


Making of red bean zong4 zi

1. Wash clean the glutinous rice, soak it in water until it softens.
2. Wash the red beans, soak for 1.5 hr and mix well with the glutinous rice.
3. Wash 300g of bamboo leaves, boil in hot water for about 30 min, transfer and soak them in cold water.
4. Put 3 or 4 pieces of the bamboo leaves together, form the shape of a cone, put in the mixed red beans and glutinous rice, wrap it up in the shape of zong4 zi, secure with string.
5. Put the zong4 zi into boiling water for 2 hrs, then use a small flame to heat for another 3 hrs.
6. Ready to serve.


These are other ingredients to spice up your zong4 zi. Duck egg yolk, mushroom, pork.


Zong4 zi takes different shape and sizes. These are zong4 zi made from fresh bamboo leaves.


These are made from dried bamboo leaves.


Tiny zong4 zi.


These ones are common found in Singapore. Usually, the glutinous rice is first cooked then fried with black soy source before they are wrapped and boiled.


These are made by my mother. The red string indicates it is a red bean zong4 zi, while the others are green bean zong4 zi.


Dried bamboo leaves you can buy from the super market in Singapore.


The strings uses are actually a kind of grass being dried. It is better than using nylon strings due to health issue.


This is how my mum's red bean zong4 zi looks like.


Yum....