How to Make Five-Colored Glutinous Rice Dumplings for the Cold Food Festival
This article will guide you on how to make delicious glutinous rice dumplings that hold their shape, along with a quick and easy method for making vibrant five-colored dumplings.
Ingredients
- 1kg of prepared glutinous rice flour
- 150g cane sugar
- White sesame seeds
- Food coloring: yellow, green, pink, red
- Image: Ingredients for the dish
Instructions
Prepare the Ingredients
To save time, you can buy pre-kneaded glutinous rice flour, which is available at dry goods stores or morning stalls selling sticky rice and traditional Vietnamese sweets. The price ranges from 20,000 to 25,000 VND per kilogram.
If you have time, soak the glutinous rice for about 5-6 hours, then rinse it thoroughly and grind it. Extract all the sour water to obtain fresh glutinous rice flour. When shaping the dumplings, depending on the moisture level of the flour, you may need to add water to achieve a pliable dough.
If using a pre-packaged glutinous rice flour mix, combine it with hot water (70-80°C). Adjust the amount of water to ensure the dough is sufficiently pliable but not too wet.
Shape the Dumplings
Knead the glutinous rice flour until it becomes pliable, then pinch off a small piece of dough. Insert a piece of cane sugar in the center to form the filling, then roll the dough into a round shape. Detailed instructions can be found in the video included in this article.
Avoid rolling the dumplings too much in your palms, as this can cause them to become soggy and lose their shape when boiled.
Boil the Dumplings
Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil, then gently drop the shaped dumplings into the water. When the dumplings float to the surface, continue boiling for about 1 more minute before removing them and plunging them into a bowl of cold water to prevent sticking.
After soaking, transfer the dumplings to a plate.
Use the back of a teaspoon to dip into a bowl of sesame seeds, then gently press it onto the top of each dumpling. This method helps the sesame seeds adhere more evenly and attractively than sprinkling them over the dumplings.
Video
Alternative Method
How to make five-colored dumplings:
Aside from the traditional white color, you can create a more appealing dish by adding colors. Use store-bought food coloring available at baking supply stores, or make your own using natural ingredients.
For example, light purple can be achieved by soaking butterfly pea flowers in water, or using purple sticky rice leaves. Yellow comes from gardenia seeds, green from pandan leaves, and red from beetroot or dragon fruit. However, this method can be time-consuming, so plan accordingly.
When kneading the dough, only 1-2 drops of food coloring are needed, as the color will intensify during boiling compared to when shaping the dumplings.
The process of boiling five-colored dumplings is the same as that for white dumplings, with no differences.
