Glutinous rice balls

Balls rolled from glutinous rice flour, filled with sesame or peanut, or left plain and small. They are done when they float. Eaten in ginger syrup; one or two after a birth to warm the stomach, no more.

TCM properties

Nature · warming　Flavour · sweet　Meridians · spleen、stomach

Traditional food therapy

The tradition holds that glutinous rice warms the stomach, and the round shape carries the meaning of the family being whole.

Cautions: read first

• Glutinous rice is heavy going; go easy if your stomach is weak or the birth was recent.
• The filling is hotter than the skin and burns easily.

Preparation

Into boiling water; once they float, give them another minute.

Origin

Made throughout China; sesame and peanut are the Cantonese fillings. In the freezer at Australian Asian grocers year round

Availability in Australia

Easy to find

Pairs well with