How to Make Qingtuan: The Traditional Chinese Rice Cake
Qingtuan, also known as green rice ball, is a traditional Chinese rice cake that is popular during the Qingming Festival. It is made from glutinous rice flour, mugwort powder, and sweet bean paste. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make qingtuan:
Ingredients
Before starting, gather all the ingredients needed:
- Glutinous rice flour - 500g
- Mugwort powder - 100g
- Hot water - 300ml
- Sweet bean paste - 300g
- Green food coloring - a few drops (optional)
Steps
Follow these steps to make qingtuan:
- Mix the glutinous rice flour and mugwort powder in a bowl.
- Add hot water gradually and mix with a spatula until the mixture forms a dough.
- Knead the dough until it becomes smooth and elastic.
- Divide the dough into small balls, about the size of a ping pong ball.
- Flatten each ball with your palm and put a small amount of sweet bean paste in the center.
- Wrap the dough around the filling and roll it into a ball shape.
- If desired, add a few drops of green food coloring to the dough before wrapping.
- Steam the qingtuan for about 10-15 minutes until they are cooked through.
Serving
Qingtuan is best served warm. You can enjoy it as a snack or dessert with a cup of tea. It can also be stored in the refrigerator for a few days and reheated before serving.