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Dai pineapple sticky rice
Bōluó fàn (菠萝饭): sweet glutinous rice steamed with fresh pineapple and served in the shell
In Xishuangbanna, the tropical south of Yunnan, the Dai people cook sticky rice inside hollowed-out pineapples, so the fruit's juice soaks in while it steams. It turns up at festivals and on every Dai restaurant table, a sweet and tangy side next to grilled and sour dishes, and children love it. Soak the rice for at least 4 hours before you start. Chef's tip: use a ripe pineapple that smells sweet at the base; an under-ripe one makes the rice sour.
- Total time
- 65 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 9 oz glutinous (sticky) ricesoaked in cold water for 4 hours
- ¼ cup coconut milk
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1 pinch salt
- 2 tbsp raisins or goji berries (optional)
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Drain 9 oz glutinous (sticky) rice. Line a steamer basket with a damp muslin cloth or baking paper with holes, spread the rice in a thin layer and steam over a high heat for 25 minutes, until each grain is translucent and chewy.
25 minStep 2: Meanwhile, cut each 2 ripe pineapples, small in half lengthways through the leaves. Cut round the inside about 1 cm from the skin and scoop out the flesh, leaving two boat-shaped shells per pineapple.
Step 3: Cut away the hard core and dice 200 g of the flesh into 1 cm cubes. Keep the rest for eating.
Step 4: Mix the hot rice with the pineapple cubes, ¼ cup coconut milk, 2 tbsp sugar, 1 pinch salt and 2 tbsp raisins or goji berries. Common mistake: mashing it; fold gently so the grains stay separate.
Step 5: Pack the rice into the pineapple shells, mounding it up. Steam the filled shells for 15–20 minutes, until the rice smells of pineapple and the fruit looks soft and glossy.
20 minStep 6: Serve warm in the shells, scooping from the bottom where the rice has soaked up the most juice.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 360 kcal
- Protein
- 5 g
- Carbs
- 80 g
- Fat
- 4 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does dai pineapple sticky rice take?
- About 65 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 45 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of coconut milk?
- Single cream, same amount (not dairy free).
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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