Dragon Boat Festival is coming up and it's really impossible to escape the fate of being asked to eat rice dumplings during family gatherings. But I have no intention of ruining my diet for a holiday, so let's seize the little time we have left and make some keto rice dumplings!
My family is used to eating "mainland" rice dumplings ("waishen" rice dumplings). They are called as such because they are different in shape, filling, and cooking method from Taiwanese rice dumplings. There are different types between Northern Taiwan and Southern Taiwan as well. "Mainland" rice dumplings are longer in shape. My particular favorite is Hu Zhou Province style rice dumplings. Traditionally, they do not come with fancy fillings, marinated pork shoulder and some lard wrapped in raw sticky rice that has been soaked in soy sauce. Then steamed for three hours until it is completely cooked inside and out. They are utmost simple and delicious. Keto rice dumplings are made in a similar fashion but does not need to be steamed for as long. So let's jump right in!
Keto Cauliflower Hu Zhou Style Rice Dumplings Recipe–Ingredients
Makes 4–5 rice dumplings
Cauliflower sticky rice：
- 600g cauliflower
- 12g psyllium husk
- 30ml soy sauce
Filling：
- 300g pork shoulder
- 85ml soy sauce
- 25ml mirin
- 1/4tsp erythritol
- some grass-fed tallow
Outer layer：
- 8–10 sheets of bamboo leaves
Keto Cauliflower Hu Zhou Style Rice Dumplings Recipe–Instructions
The night before：
Cut the pork shoulders into strips that each weight around 60–70g.
Place the strips of pork in a container that can be sealed. Add the soy sauce, mirin, and erythritol. Mix and rub well then marinate in the fridge overnight.
Soak the dried bamboo leaves overnight and brush them to clean. Let them continue soaking and pat dry right before using them.
Soak the cauliflower in water with some baking soda or water with vegetable detergent for at least 30 minutes*. Rinse then let sit and dry overnight.
On the day of the grand rice dumpling wrapping：
Place the cauliflower in a food processor and set it to chop (not purée. If you are using a blender, put it on a low setting). Chop/blend until they turn into cauliflower rice.
Combine the cauliflower rice with the psyllium husk
Add soy sauce to the cauliflower rice, 10ml (2tsp) at a time. Mix in between until all the soy sauce is added.
Combine well until all the cauliflower is evenly coated with soy sauce and are of the same color. At this point, the cauliflower rice will appear to be like sticky rice
Take two bamboo leaves and with the rougher side with the stem facing up. Overlap about half the length of the leaves. Fold back to create a funnel shape and start filling it. (See video)
Place in some cauliflower sticky rice then half teaspoon of grass-fed tallow. Then place a strip of pork shoulder. Finally, seal it with a bit more cauliflower sticky rice. Make sure that everything is tightly packed, well-wrapped, and tied-up well or else it would over flow and essentially explode when you are steaming them.
Once they are wrapped, put two rice-cups of water in a steam cooker. Remember to place the rice dumplings on a rack in the steam cooker so that they aren't submerged in water. If you are steaming these on a stove, steam for about 40 minutes.
Keto Cauliflower Hu Zhou Style Rice Dumplings Recipe–Notes
Traditional recipes use lard but I used grass-fed tallow that I rendered on my own.
Do not skip the step of soaking and washing your cauliflower! A LOT of tiny black worms are going to float out of that thing.
Keto Cauliflower Hu Zhou Style Rice Dumplings–Video Recipe
--
Don't forget to follow me on Instagram!
Cherie Aria🧜🏻♀️ 艾雪莉
More food: https://www.instagram.com/healthy.cheatdays/
Lifestyle, workout, doggies: https://www.instagram.com/cheriearia/