Eight-Treasure Rice Pudding (八宝饭)

Ingredients

• 1Glutinous rice (300g)
• 2Red dates (8)
• 3Lotus seeds (8)
• 4Goji berries (2 tbsp)
• 5Assorted candied fruits (50g)
• 6Pine nuts (2 tbsp)
• 7Red bean paste (150g)
• 8Rock sugar syrup (3 tbsp)
• 9Osmanthus honey (2 tbsp)
• 10Lard or butter (2 tbsp)

Instructions

1. 1Soak glutinous rice overnight, drain and steam for 25 minutes until just cooked.
2. 2Mix steamed rice with lard/butter and a little sugar while hot.
3. 3Grease a bowl and arrange the 8 treasures (dates, lotus seeds, goji berries, candied fruits, pine nuts) in a decorative pattern on the bottom.
4. 4Press a layer of rice over the toppings, add a layer of red bean paste in the centre, then cover with more rice.
5. 5Steam for a further 25–30 minutes.
6. 6Invert onto a serving plate so the decorative toppings face up.
7. 7Drizzle with osmanthus honey syrup and serve.