a worker making sure the dumplings are tied securely
A stone's throw from my house is a famous restaurant selling yummy glutinous rice dumplings. They are great for breakfast or as a snack any time of the day.
I like to watch the workers tie the wrapped rice dumplings every time I'm there. The girl in the photo has nimble fingers. She wraps and ties one dumpling within 15 seconds!
ingredients for cooking rice dumplings
Now that rice dumpling are easily available, I have stopped making my own. It is more economic to buy the rice dumplings than waste my precious time labouring in the kitchen.
arghhh..... those are my lame excuses, the skill of making sticky rice dumpling was passed from one generation to another. If my son doesn't learn it from me, this traditional skill may be lost one day.
ECL competing for the fastest rice dumpling maker
I once entered a rice dumpling making competition. I was no match for the other more experienced competitors. It was a fun event and we get to meet people in our neighbourhood.
A mini rice dumpling
Try a glutinous rice dumpling when you are in Singapore. They have savory or sweet fillings. I like both versions. :)
PhotoHunt
photohuntFirst Commenter -
I love to try some of the rice dumplings. What is the name and the location of the restaurant which is a stone throw from your house? Happy weekend!
ReplyDeletewow so many community buzz
ReplyDeleteYou got me very hungry, ECL!!
ReplyDeleteand never thought it would happen with this week's theme!!
Have a happy one !
Yay Bakchang!!!
ReplyDeleteI love the sweet version. How I love these dumplings altho one at a time otherwise I end up feeling bloated and quesy.
I also love the nonya(I think) version with blue and white rice.
Its really a yummy Singaporean snack. Wishing you and evryone a nice weekend.
Hey ECL, I don think I've tried rice dumplings before!
ReplyDeleteI would love to try both the sweet and savoury ones..yummy!
ReplyDeleteHappy weekend to u!
ReplyDeleteI'm first? I don't believe it. I'd better be quick then.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing how quick these people are and why bother when they do it so much better. Losing the tradition? Well show him how but don't expect him to continue it.
Happy weekend ECL.
honestly the labor is very impractical compared to just buying it but it's still good to do it once in a while =)
ReplyDeletei wonder how can we taste ECL's rice dumpling?
happy weekend!
Oh I'm sure that delicious. Love to try different rice cakes.
ReplyDeleteLove your creative take on the theme.
I have to admit... those particular kind of dumplings ("chang", right?) are the kinds whose idea/concept I like but whose taste I like less than I would like -- if you know what I mean! :S
ReplyDeleteMaking glutinous rice dumplings is not easy task. Requires skill.
ReplyDeleteI love eating those dumplings.
It's no easy task trying to tie those dumpling! I'm still struggling.
ReplyDeleteAll tied up indeed. :) I used to help my mum when to tie the "chang"! :D
ReplyDeletestanley,
ReplyDeleteIt's Kim Choo Bak Chang.
You can contact me if you are coming for these delicious snacks. :)
Oh.... they sell yummy Nonya kuehs too.
sg short stories,
ReplyDeleteI'm getting more active in my neighbourhood.
Our general election is coming. I might stand for election. haha....
Mar,
ReplyDeleteYou know I could put up a post of this theme in the bedroom. It will be just as yummy! hahaha.....
jean,
ReplyDeleteHope you have learnt the skill of making bak changs so you can satisfy your craving in your country of residence :)
Wish I could send some over for you.
In recent years, lots of bak chang fillings, sweet or savoury, have been created. Some creations are amazingly good but some are just commercial products.
I still prefer the ones with traditional fillings.
Marzie,
ReplyDeleteThere are halal rice dumplings sold in Malaysia ... and Singapore too. You should try one.
Happy weekend!
jmb,
ReplyDeleteI feel real sad when gradually my Chinese culture and traditions are lost because people find them cumbersome.
It is hard to maintain such traditions when our young do not want to know their roots.
My son has a duty to learn whether he likes it or not. As a chef, he has no excuse not to know our food history and culture.
Ayie,
ReplyDeleteI wish I could send you the rice dumplings. I'm quite proud of my product. :P
It takes hours of hard work to make these rice dumplings but one can be wolfed down in 5 minutes!
For the cook, it is a pleasure to see others enjoying the fruits of her labour. :)
Photo Cache,
ReplyDeleteThey are yummy snacks. You gotta try one if you come to Singapore.
YTSL,
ReplyDeleteThere are lots of new creations with weird fillings these days. I prefer to stick to the traditional ones.
I used to adore rice dumplings and compete with my brothers and cousins to see who can eat the most rice dumplings. Now I have to watch my diet. :(
Mei Teng,
ReplyDeleteYes, you need the skill to make a good rice dumpling. And that deters people from learning the skill. :P
very interesting! i didn't know rice dumplings are made this way.
ReplyDeleteJama,
ReplyDeleteGreat! You know how to make rice dumplings! With more practice and you would be a pro at tying! :)
Tekkaus,
ReplyDeleteWell, kids are curious and usually want to participate in the adult activities. They start by helping (although getting in the way more than helping) and learn something in the process.
You remember those cosy moments with your Mom? You should share that experience with your kids in future.
I think it is the same with pasta. The Italian women don't do it themselves anymore, it's easier to buy it fresh in a shop !
ReplyDelete15 seconds, that's lightning fast. She should compete on one of those cooking shows!
ReplyDeletei don't wrap and tie dumplings. i usually buy home made dumplings from the wet market. l
ReplyDeletewrapping the dumplings is a chore and time consuming. the hardest part is actually tying the dumplings.
ReplyDeletewhen the dumplings are tied loosely, the ingredients will leak out from the sides.
ReplyDeletei wonder when i can savour dumplings from s'pore. if i visit u, you belanja me ah!
ReplyDeletehave a lovely weekend.
ReplyDeleteLuna,
ReplyDeleteNow that you know, would you like to learn the skill? :P
Gattina,
ReplyDeleteAlready we aren't having enough time to spend with the family; do what we would love to do, and with the many distractions these days, it is just a waste of time to labour in the kitchen when we can buy the food off the shelves.
We love the convenience of ready-made food.... and the bonus of time saved to do other things.
What's going to become of our culture and tradition? Leave it to the enterprising business people. :)
Bonggamom,
ReplyDeleteGosh. She would beat the other contestants hands down! She's s pro!
life ramblings,
ReplyDeleteCome to Singapore, I not only belanja you rice dumplings but our local food as well.
To save time, I buy from the stores too. Too much distractions and too little time. I hardly get to spend much time with my family these days. High price to pay when living in the city. :P
Aww.. now you are making my saliva dripping all over the floor. The dumplings have been my all-time favorite and now is still the lunar 9th month :P
ReplyDeletehttp://crizcats.blogspot.com/
Yum! They soubnd great ECL! Happy weekend
ReplyDeleteI like dumplings! So yummy and filling :)
ReplyDeleteHappy weekend!
Did you go to the Nuffnang Blog Awards?
ECL u r an amazing woman. is there anything u cannot do?
ReplyDeleteLooks like you're all tied up there. Yummmy. I love those!
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by...
What an interesting post and great for the theme. I love the photographs.
ReplyDeleteI will be one of those people who have yet to learn how to wrap dumplings.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many things to learn. How does one learn to listen to one's heart, to learn what is most important?
Hmmm.. haven't found a Halal dumpling yet. The ones sold at Jusco were all non-Halal. :(
ReplyDeleteoh..i love bak chang..
ReplyDeleteWhen I was young my mother made dumplings also. The cooked dumplings were brown in colour. I love it but I lost the skill already.
ReplyDeletesounds like a fun activity; but i'm sure it tastes even better =]
ReplyDeleteWhy are they tied?
ReplyDeleteI love the third pic, so happy!
ReplyDeleteMine can be found here
These look very good!
ReplyDeleteDumpling festival, meh?
ReplyDeleteI would love to taste those dumplings, the sweet ones especially.
ReplyDeletewould love to experience watching you tie the rice dumplings by hand, ECL
ReplyDeletei thought it's just here that has rice dumplings. quite interesting how our culture crosses.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great contribution to the theme!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear you pass on these food traditions to your son and it looks and sounds delicious quite exotic to a Norwegian you know :-)
15 seconds! imagine her tying that every single day, gosh. she has gotten so good at it! i haven't fully learn how to make a perfect dumpling from my mum either. :p
ReplyDeleteYou got me craving for those bak zhangs!!
ReplyDeleteReminds me of another post you made some time back. Tied bounded feet.
looks like fun doing that! i will surely like to do and learn that also! nice take for the theme!
ReplyDeletehttp://racelyn.com/2009/10/ph184-tied-air-balloon-ride.html
wow, very long time I haven't seen people tie dumplings.
ReplyDeletemaybe when i go visit singapore you can make me taste those dumplings =)
ReplyDelete