Cherry & Dennis Helper Habitat
Hakka Mugwort Rice Dumplings
客家艾粄
Recipe overview
Food-grade mugwort colours glutinous and plain rice-flour skin around cooked radish, shiitake and dried shrimp filling. Use only verified edible mugwort.
01
Ingredients
Main ingredients
- 80 g food-grade young mugwort leaves
- 300 g glutinous rice flour
- 100 g plain rice flour
- about 220 ml, adjust to dough hot water
- 300 g, shredded white radish
- 4, soaked and diced dried shiitake
- 30 g, soaked and chopped dried shrimp
- 2 tbsp cooking oil
Filling seasoning
- 1 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1/4 tsp white pepper
02
Tools
- knife
- cutting board
- small pot
- blender
- wok
- spatula
- large bowl
- steamer
- steaming paper
- oven mitts
03
Steps
Step 1
Verify edible mugwort
Use trusted food-grade leaves, wash and remove tough stems.
Step 2
Blanch mugwort
Blanch in boiling water for two minutes and squeeze out excess liquid.
Step 3
Blend green puree
Blend leaves with a little hot water to a fine puree.
Step 4
Shred radish
Peel, shred and squeeze water from the radish.
Step 5
Soak and chop
Soak shiitake and shrimp separately, drain and chop small.
Step 6
Cook filling
Stir-fry radish, mushroom and shrimp with filling seasoning until cooked and fairly dry; cool.
Step 7
Mix rice flours
Combine glutinous and plain rice flours in a bowl.
Step 8
Knead mugwort dough
Add puree and hot water gradually, kneading until pliable without cracks.
Step 9
Portion dough
Divide into twelve and cover to prevent drying.
Step 10
Fill and seal
Flatten each with a thicker middle, add filling and pinch into sealed ovals.
Step 11
Steam dumplings
When steamer boils, place on paper and steam over medium for about 20–25 minutes.
Step 12
Check and serve
Skin has no raw flour centre and filling is hot; cool slightly before eating.
Common mistakes
- Foraging the wrong plant
- Wet filling tears wrappers
- Wrapper too thin and leaking
- Undercooked or dangerously sticky hot rice skin
Tips
Buy identified edible mugwort, cook filling dry, keep skin substantial and take small bites of sticky rice food.
