Eight Treasures Rice: A Festive Chinese Dessert

Eight Treasures Rice, or Bābǎo Fàn, is a traditional Chinese dessert made from glutinous rice and a combination of sweet and savory ingredients. It is often served during festive occasions like the Chinese New Year and weddings, as it is believed to bring good luck and prosperity.

Here’s a recipe to make Eight Treasures Rice:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup glutinous rice
• 1/2 cup red beans
• 1/2 cup lotus seeds
• 1/2 cup dried longan
• 1/2 cup jujubes
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1/2 cup walnuts
• 1/2 cup Chinese dates
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 cups water

Instructions:

1. Rinse the glutinous rice with water until the water runs clear. Soak the rice in water for at least 2 hours.
2. Rinse the red beans, lotus seeds, and Chinese dates. Soak them in water for at least 2 hours.
3. Rinse the dried longan and jujubes. Set them aside.
4. Drain the soaked rice and put it in a pot with 4 cups of water. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes.
5. Add the soaked red beans, lotus seeds, and Chinese dates to the pot with the rice. Stir well, then continue to simmer for another 10 minutes.
6. Add the dried longan, jujubes, and raisins to the pot. Stir well, then continue to simmer for another 10 minutes.
7. Add the walnuts to the pot. Stir well, then continue to simmer for another 5 minutes.
8. Add the brown sugar and salt to the pot. Stir well to dissolve the sugar.
9. Drizzle the vegetable oil over the rice mixture, then gently stir to combine.
10. Cover the pot with a lid and let it simmer for another 5-10 minutes until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is fully cooked.
11. Turn off the heat and let the rice sit for 10-15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
12. Serve hot or at room temperature.

Eight Treasures Rice is a delicious and festive Chinese dessert that is perfect for sharing with family and friends during special occasions. The combination of sweet and savory ingredients creates a delightful blend of flavors and textures that will leave you wanting more. Give it a try and impress your guests with this traditional Chinese dessert!