· BURPPLE

Dragon Boat Festival 2022: Treat Your Family To These Delicious Rice Dumplings

The Dragon Boat Festival is just around the corner! That means it’s time for rice dumplings once more.

Whether its traditional glutinous rice dumplings for heart-warming family gatherings or unique renditions with a twist for gift-giving, we've got just the right picks for you! 

Wan Hao Chinese Restaurant

For Refined Handcrafted Rice Dumplings
Exquisitely wrapped and meticulously handcrafted with the finest ingredients, Wan Hao Chinese Restaurant's well-loved rice dumplings are a staple for many families during the Dragon Boat Festival. Indulge in their all new flavours including the Abalone with Karasumi & Conpoy Rice Dumpling ($28), Chinese Rice Wine Salt Baked Chicken Rice Dumpling ($16), and more!

Executive Sous Chef Brian Wong Shiuh Yean's personal favourite dumpling flavour is the Black Truffle 5-Grain Rice Dumpling ($16) as it features "a generous amount of multi grains and crunchy vegetables—giving it a nice texture in every bite." Chef Brian also highly recommends the White Pepper Crab Rice Dumpling ($20) as he finds that the "light, succulent crab meat and hint of white pepper comes together very nicely." 

Kuriya Japanese Market

For Bak Zhang with A Japanese Twist
Fiesta has premiered a series of Zong-nigiri (fusion zong x onigiri rice dumplings) over at Kuriya Japanese Market. Their chewy glutinous rice envelops different ingredients and is wrapped in seaweed, in true onigiri fashion—this unification of two cultures promises something a little out of the ordinary.

Keep an eye out for their six tantalising flavours: the XO Dried Scallop Bak Zhang Onigiri ($4), the Pork Bak Zhang Onigiri ($3.50), the Nyonya Pork Bak Zhang Onigiri ($3.50) and Nyonya Chicken Zhang Onigiri ($3.50), the Chestnut Mushroom Bak Zhang Onigiri ($3.50), and of course, the Azuki Bean with Sweet Chestnut Onigiri ($3.50).

Paradise Group

For Novel and Specially Curated Rice Dumplings
This year’s Dragon Boat Festival celebrations are about to get a whole lot better with Paradise Group’s newly crafted rice dumplings! You can look forward to their line-up of Hong Kong-style dumplings including the Specialty Truffle Char Siew Rice Dumpling and Novel 'Nonya' Spicy Pork Rice Dumpling.

Want to gift the dumplings to your business partners or loved ones? They've got just the deal for you—encased in an exclusive premium carrier is the Specially Curated Rice Dumpling Gift Set ($62.80) that will make for the perfect surprise. It consists of the Abalone Rice Dumpling, the Pork with Conpoy and Chestnut Rice Dumpling, the Red Bean Paste Rice Dumpling, the Novel 'Nonya' Spicy Pork Rice Dumpling, and last but certainly not the least, the Homemade Spicy Dried Shrimp Paste.

The Hainan Story

For Traditional Hainanese Rice Dumplings
Aptly named, the Hainanese Grandma Rice Dumpling (box of 4 for $50) from The Hainan Story is prepared with an age-old recipe passed down from a Hainanese grandmother. As the name suggests, this dish evokes memories of one’s grandmother and her mouth-watering, home-cooked food.

Each rice dumpling features braised pork belly, chestnuts, peanuts, mushrooms, salted egg yolk and glutinous rice that is stir-fried with black pepper, dark soy sauce and five-spice powder for a robust fragrant flavour. The box set also comes with a bottle of Hainanese Sambal Chilli (180g) to enjoy with the dumplings.

Yàn

For Savoury Rice Dumplings
Yàn commemorates the Dragon Boat Festival with two savoury rice dumplings, each featuring either Cantonese or Sichuan elements. The Steamed Glutinous Rice Dumpling with 6 Head Abalone, Roast Duck and Lotus Seed ($33.80 per piece) demonstrates the renowned Cantonese culinary art of braising and roasting, as seen from the tender 6-head Australian abalone that has been gently braised in superior stock for more than three hours.

Alternatively, relish in the robust Sichuan flavours of the Steamed Spicy Glutinous Rice Dumpling with Black Pork Fillet and Diced Shrimps ($22.00 per piece).  The Australian black pork tenderloin and dried shrimps are stir-fried with Sichuan peppercorn and chilli oil, highlighting the signature bold flavours of the region.

Path

For Spanish Pork Rice Dumplings
Path's limited Spanish Pork Rice Dumpling offers a playful little twist! Perfect for two diners, the dumplings are available from 1 to 4 June 2022, for dine-in ($38++ per dumpling) and takeaways ($38+ per dumping).

Inside a traditional-looking bamboo leaf wrapping is a decidedly non-traditional Spanish pork hock dumpling stuffed with glutinous rice, ginseng, chestnuts, porcini mushrooms, and Australian abalone. Chef Marvas was inspired by memories of his grandmother's handmade dumplings and pig trotter dishes.

Swensen's

For Rice Dumpling Ice Cream Cakes
The Pulut Hitam Rice Dumpling Ice Cream Cake ($8) is brought to you by Swensen’s! Surprise your loved ones with this unique handcrafted ice cream dessert that resembles an actual rice dumpling wrapped with bamboo leaves.

Cut into the chocolate exterior to reveal a gorgeous purple interior speckled with black glutinous rice bits, reminiscent of the sticky rice in a traditional ‘Zongzi’. At the heart of the rich pulut hitam ice cream is a decadent salted egg chocolate bon bon that adds to the sweet-savoury taste of the 'dumpling' as a whole.