Should I steam or boil zongzi?
Wikipedia says they're cooked by steaming or boiling. Searching further, I've found plenty of people saying their way is the best way. Assuming they're well-made and won't leak when boiled, why would I pick one method over the other?
Best Answer
I have looked extensively and it seems that whether to boil or steam is determined by region and it is as subjective as the fillings used. See below from this page .
Other variations include using black instead of white glutinous rice, or precooking the rice and filling, or steaming instead of boiling, or even wrapping into a cylindrical shape or a flat paddle shape instead of a pyramidal one.
You may be able to make a decision based on certain factors of your recipe. For example:
- Some recipes call for the rice to be soaked while others call for it to be cooked. If I was using soaked rice I would probably choose boiling as the zongzi may become too dry with steaming. Same idea for other ingredients.
Another consideration would be how well the zongzi are wrapped. If they are wrapped very skillfully, either way could work. However, if not, the filling could come out much easier with boiling.
So, in the end, I would say that there really isn't a really definitive answer. I think I would use the method called for in the recipe as there may be specific reasons the prescribed cooking method was chosen.
Pictures about "Should I steam or boil zongzi?"
Are Zongzi steamed or boiled?
Just in case this is the first time you're reading about zongzi (\u7cbd\u5b50), or joong in Cantonese, it's basically a Chinese version of a tamale: rice wrapped inside a leaf, then boiled in water until cooked through. They can be savory or sweet, and everyone has their favorite flavors.How do you steam Zongzi without a steamer?
Add water to cover, with a couple inches to spare. Cover the pot. Bring to a boil, then bring simmer on medium-low. Cook for about 1 hour, then turn down to low heat until the water is barely simmering and cook an additional 3 hours.Can Zongzi be microwaved?
To reheat, let it thaw in the fridge until it's no longer frozen solid, remove the foil (but keep it wrapped in the banana leaf and string!), and then either steam it or (my preferred method) microwave it for about 2-3 minutes. Then, unwrap everything and enjoy!How do you steam frozen rice dumplings?
If frozen, defrost in the chiller overnight or at room temperature for 3 hours, then steam over boiling water on medium heat for 15 minutes.How to buy, boil, fry and enjoy Zongzi
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Gary Barnes, Gary Barnes, Klaus Nielsen, Katerina Holmes