Have you thought of any special dishes for the major holidays of the year? Today, let’s join TasteVN in the kitchen to make 3 delicious lotus leaf rice recipes, with simple ingredients and extremely easy recipes that will immediately create a dish to make your family meal more beautiful!
1. Lotus Leaf Rice
Preparation
15 minutes
Cooking
30 minutes
Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Lotus Leaf Rice Serves 4 people
White rice 2 cups Lotus seeds 100 gr Chicken thigh fillet 150 gr Shrimp 100 gr Dried shiitake mushrooms 4 pieces Peas 50 gr Carrots 2 pieces Lotus leaves a little Shallots 3 pieces (chopped) Soy sauce 1/2 tablespoon Seasoning powder 1 teaspoon Cooking oil 30 ml
How to choose fresh ingredients
How to choose fresh lotus seeds
- Instead of buying pre-peeled lotus seeds, you should choose the type of lotus seeds to peel and remove the core yourself.
- Good lotus seeds are those that are mature, plump, with an outer color of ivory white or deep yellow, and have the characteristic fragrance of lotus.
- Absolutely do not buy immature lotus seeds, those that are misshapen or bruised.
How to choose fresh chicken thighs
- Good chicken meat will have a characteristic shiny yellow skin. The outer skin is thin, smooth to the touch, not too bumpy, and has good elasticity.
- The chicken meat inside should have a natural pinkish-red color, not too pale or too dark. Especially, the chicken should not have any bruises or blood clots. Parts of the meat that are slightly pale or turning dark gray are from chickens that died before being processed.
- If buying pre-processed and packaged chicken, carefully observe the expiration date and packaging date, and check if the bag’s seal is intact.
See details: How to choose fresh chicken thighs, ensure quality
Tools needed
Pot, steamer rack, knife, spoon, chopsticks, steamer pot,…
How to prepare Lotus Leaf Steamed Rice
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Prepare the ingredients and cook the rice
Bone-free chicken meat should be cleaned and cut into small square pieces for easy eating.
Shelled shrimp should be washed and chopped finely.
Dried shiitake mushrooms should be soaked in water for about 30 minutes to soften, washed thoroughly several times to remove dirt, and diced.
Boil the green peas until cooked. Peel the carrot, wash it, and dice it.
Lotus seeds should be soaked in saltwater, washed thoroughly, boiled until just cooked, and drained.
Tip: To prevent the meat from breaking apart when cooking, do not cut the meat too small, as it will shrink when cooked.
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Stir-fry shrimp and meat mixture and mix with rice
Heat 30ml of oil in a pan over high heat, sauté 3 minced shallots until fragrant. When the shallots are golden and aromatic, add mushrooms, chicken, and shrimp along with 1/2 tablespoon of soy sauce, 1 teaspoon of seasoning powder, reduce the heat, and stir gently for 3 minutes to let the seasoning penetrate the meat.
When the chicken and shrimp have firmed up, add peas, carrots, and lotus seeds and stir-fry for another 5 minutes until cooked.
Once the ingredients are cooked, turn off the heat, add white rice, and mix well.
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Steam rice in lotus leaves
Wash the lotus leaves with salt water and dry them. Place the lotus leaves in a bowl, gently press down so the leaves curve, being careful not to tear them.
Scoop the mixed rice into the bowl, press gently to compact the rice until the bowl is full. Fold the edges of the leaves into the bowl to compact the rice, invert the bowl onto a plate and place it in a steamer, carefully lift the bowl out.
Cover and steam for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, remove the plate, use scissors to cut the top of the lotus leaves in a cross pattern, and gently fold the cut parts outward to form a bowl shape.
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Finished Product
So with a few simple steps, we have transformed fried rice into an attractive, unique dish while still retaining its delicious flavor and full nutrition.
Rice mixed with many colorful ingredients wrapped in a layer of fresh green lotus leaves brings a refreshing feeling to your family meal. Each grain of rice is firm, soft, and fragrant, eaten with crunchy vegetables, combined with juicy shrimp and meat, making the dish even more appealing.
2. Brown rice steamed in lotus leaves
Preparation
15 minutes
Cooking
1 hour 30 minutes
Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Steamed Brown Rice with Lotus Leaves For 2 people
Brown rice 200 gr Lean meat 100 gr Shrimp 100 gr Carrot 100 gr Green beans 100 gr Quail eggs 10 eggs Dried shiitake mushrooms 4 pieces Chopped garlic 2 cloves Chopped shallots 1 bulb Lotus leaf 1 leaf Cooking oil 1 tablespoon Fish sauce 1 tablespoon Common spices a little ( salt/ sugar/ seasoning powder/ monosodium glutamate )
How to Choose Fresh Ingredients
How to Choose Good Brown Rice
- Brown rice grains are slender and longer, larger than ordinary white rice grains; there are different types of brown rice, among which the prominent one is dragon blood brown rice, which still has the outer husk attached. When broken in half, it has a red color inside and tastes sweet.
- You can choose brown rice, dragon blood rice, or black brown rice to cook this dish; the finished rice will be evenly sticky, sweet, and delicious.
- Select rice from reputable sellers, carefully observe to ensure the rice is not infested with weevils, and when held, it feels smooth due to the remaining oil on the surface.
How to Choose Fresh Pork
- Fresh meat has a dry membrane, is not slimy, has a bright red color, and the surface is slightly taut. The meat block is firm, has elasticity; pressing on it creates a dent but does not leave a mark when you lift your finger.
- Fresh meat will have a characteristic fragrant smell. Meat that is not fresh will have an unpleasant and fishy odor.
- You should not buy meat that has small particles stuck to the meat or fat, as this may indicate the meat is from infected pigs (pigs infected with parasites).
See details: How to choose fresh pork
Required tools
Steamer, rice cooker, pan, knife, bowls, string,…
How to make lotus leaf steamed brown rice
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Rinse and cook the brown rice
You soak 200g of brown rice for about 2 hours, then rinse it several times with water until it’s really clean.
You put the brown rice into the rice cooker, add water to cover the rice (the ratio of rice to water is 1:1.5), close the lid and press “Cook” to cook until the rice is done, about 1 hour. Switch to “Warm” mode and let the rice sit in the cooker for about 10 minutes before serving.
Tip: During cooking, do not open the lid frequently as it will cause the nutrients in the brown rice to escape with the steam, and it may cause the rice to burn and not cook evenly.
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Prepare the ingredients
Pork should be washed with diluted salt water and then diced. Shrimp should have their heads and legs removed, peeled, deveined, washed, and then diced.
Wash the vegetables, then: peel and dice the carrot, trim the ends of the green beans, remove the fibers, and then dice.
Soak the shiitake mushrooms in water for about 30 minutes until soft, then wash and chop.
Boil the quail eggs until cooked and then peel.
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Stir-fry meat, vegetables with quail eggs
Heat a pan, then add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil, 1 chopped shallot, and 2 minced garlic cloves to sauté until fragrant.
Next, add the diced meat and shrimp to the pan, stir-fry over medium heat for about 2 – 3 minutes until the meat is firm, then season with 1/2 tablespoon of MSG, 1/2 tablespoon of seasoning powder, 1 tablespoon of sugar, and 1 tablespoon of fish sauce, and continue to stir well.
Then, add the vegetables and shiitake mushrooms and stir-fry for an additional 2 – 3 minutes before adding the brown rice and stir-frying for about 2 minutes to absorb the flavors.
Finally, add the peeled quail eggs and gently stir, adjust the seasoning to taste, and then turn off the heat!
Tip: To prevent the quail eggs from breaking during the stir-frying process, add them at the end!
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Wrap the rice in lotus leaves
Wash the lotus leaves with salted water and dry them. Place the inner side of the lotus leaf into a bowl, gently press down to make the leaf concave and avoid tearing it.
Put all the stir-fried rice inside, use some string or any kind of twine to tightly tie the lotus leaf.
Tip: You can briefly blanch the lotus leaves to soften them, making it easier to wrap the rice without breaking the leaf veins!
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Steam the lotus leaf rice
Prepare a steamer pot, bring water in the pot to a boil, then place the brown rice wrapped in lotus leaves inside.
Cover tightly and steam over medium heat for about 20 minutes until the lotus leaves turn a dull green, become soft, and release a fragrant aroma.
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Final product
Serve the steamed brown rice with lotus leaves on a plate and enjoy. The dish has a beautiful color, fragrant with the scent of lotus leaves, and when eaten, the rice grains are soft and perfectly cooked, harmonizing with the fatty and chewy pork, crunchy and sweet shrimp, and fresh, delicious vegetables.
This dish is very suitable for entertaining guests, especially during holidays or for serving at formal feasts!
3. Steamed egg rice with lotus leaves
Preparation
10 minutes
Cooking
30 minutes
Difficulty level
Easy
Ingredients for Steamed egg rice with lotus leaves Serves 3 people
Rice 300 gr Shrimp 50 gr (cooked and peeled) Carrot 100 gr Fresh lotus seeds 100 gr Green beans 100 gr Minced garlic 2 tablespoons Chicken egg 1 piece Annatto oil 2 tablespoons Lotus leaf 1 leaf Common spices a little (salt/ pepper/ seasoning powder/ monosodium glutamate)
How to choose good chicken eggs
- You should choose eggs with a thin white powdery layer on the outside, which feel rough or heavy when touched because these are fresh eggs. If the eggshell is smooth, shiny, or has cracks, it indicates that the eggs have been stored for a long time and are not fresh.
- Hold the egg up to your ear and shake it gently; if you hear a sound, it is an old egg that has been stored for a long time. If you do not hear anything but feel strong movement when shaking, it means the egg is bad, and the hen is in the process of incubating.
Tools needed
Steamer, pot, bowl, knife, cutting board, rice ladle,…
How to prepare Steamed Egg Rice with Lotus Leaf
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Prepare the ingredients
First, peel the carrot, wash it clean, then dice it into small cubes. Next, trim the ends of the green beans, wash them clean, and cut them into small pieces.
Then, wash 100g of fresh lotus seeds.
Boil a pot of water, then add 1/3 teaspoon of salt, lotus seeds, carrots, and green beans. Cook the vegetables for 15 – 20 minutes over medium heat until they are soft.Finally, remove the vegetables and drain them in a colander.
Wash the shrimp, remove the heads and peel them, then make a small incision along the back of the shrimp and remove the black vein.
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Mix rice with eggs
Put 300g of rice, 1 chicken egg, 1/3 tablespoon of seasoning powder, 1/4 tablespoon of pepper, and 1 tablespoon of seasoning mix in a bowl. Use your hands to mix well until the mixture is combined.
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Stir-fried rice
Place a pan on the stove, add 2 tablespoons of annatto oil, 2 tablespoons of minced garlic, and sauté until fragrant over medium heat. Next, add the boiled vegetables to the pan and continue to stir for another 5 minutes.
Then, add the mixture of rice and eggs and stir well for 5 – 7 minutes over high heat until the rice is dry, and each grain of rice is separate.
Finally, add 50g of shrimp, mix well once more to complete.
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Wrap rice in lotus leaf
First, wash and dry the lotus leaves. Next, place the inner part of the lotus leaf into a bowl, then scoop the fried rice with egg into it and wrap it tightly.
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Steam rice in lotus leaf
Place the wrapped rice in the steamer with the edge of the lotus leaf facing down.
Next, bring a pot of water to a boil, place the steamer on top, cover tightly, and steam the rice in lotus leaf for 15 minutes.
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Final Product
Steamed egg fried rice with lotus leaves has an enticing fragrant aroma, soft and rich rice from fried eggs, sweet shrimp, along with crunchy, delicious fresh vegetables. This warm rice dish is eaten while blowing, blending all the flavors together in an incredibly appealing and delicious way.
You can make this steamed rice with lotus leaves to invite the whole family on important occasions or simply for weekend meals, which will help make family meals warmer and more fulfilling.
How to Choose Fresh Shrimp
- Fresh shrimp have a transparent outer shell, smell salty like seawater, not a foul odor, and the tails are tightly curled.
- Do not buy shrimp that feel slimy when touched, and whose bodies are bent instead of straight.
- If you press your finger lightly on the shrimp shell and feel a grainy texture, do not buy them.
- Absolutely do not buy shrimp with tails that are fanned out, as these shrimp have been injected with chemicals or water to make them appear plump.
How to Choose Quality Dried Shiitake Mushrooms
- Choose mushrooms that are not broken and have a light brown cap.
- In particular, pay attention to the smell; it should not be musty or have any strange odors, and the mushrooms should not have any white mold spots.
How to choose fresh and delicious carrots
- Choose carrots that are straight in shape, with smooth skin, bright color, and feel firm and heavy when held.
- Avoid selecting carrots that have leaves or stems at the base, or those with thick and large shoulders, as these are usually carrots with large cores, which are not sweet and have fewer nutrients.
- Do not purchase carrots that are misshapen, dark in color, bruised, or have unusual spots.
See more:
Above is a guide on 3 ways to make lotus leaf steamed rice that is authentic, delicious, and very simple to make, which anyone can do. Wish you success with this recipe!
