
Festive sticky rice with sweetened fruits and beans
Prep Time
30 min
Cook Time
1 hr
Total Time
1 hr 30 min
Servings
8
8 servings
Difficulty
Medium
Cost
Moderate
$$
Festive sticky rice with sweetened fruits and beans
A dome of glistening sticky rice studded with dried fruits, candied lotus seeds, and sweet red bean paste. Ba bao fan is a magnificent Chinese New Year dessert with centuries of tradition.
30m
Prep Time
60m
Cook Time
90m
Total Time
8
Servings
Medium
Difficulty
Moderate $$
Cost
(Updated )
Eight treasure rice is as stunning to look at as it is to eat. The sticky rice dome, decorated with colorful dried fruits and filled with sweet bean paste, is a show-stopping centerpiece at any celebration.
Drain soaked glutinous rice and steam for 25 minutes until tender. Mix with sugar and 1 tbsp oil.
Grease a round bowl. Arrange dried fruits, lotus seeds, and raisins in a decorative pattern on the bottom.
Press a layer of sticky rice over the fruit, lining the bowl evenly. Spread red bean paste in the center.
Cover with remaining sticky rice and press firmly. Steam for 30 minutes.
Invert the bowl onto a plate to unmold the dome. Drizzle with a warm sugar syrup and serve immediately.
Serve over steamed jasmine or sticky rice
Pair with a side of pickled vegetables or kimchi
Add a drizzle of sesame oil and toasted sesame seeds for extra flavor
Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream
Rich and earthy alternative filling
More readily available with similar sweetness
Test Kitchen Pick
Soy Sauce
Helpful Pantry Staple
This style of cooking leans heavily on a few foundational condiments. A better soy sauce is usually the fastest pantry upgrade to notice.
The savory base here starts with a more useful bottle, not another gadget.
If this cuisine shows up regularly in your kitchen, soy sauce is one of the best-value pantry upgrades.
Shop soy sauce for this recipeSoak glutinous rice for at least 4 hours for the best texture.
Grease the bowl generously with oil to ensure the dome unmolds cleanly.
Wrap tightly and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Freeze for up to 1 month.
Re-steam for 15 minutes until warmed through and sticky.
Per serving (0mg) · 8 servings
A moderate-calorie serving · based on a 2,000 cal daily diet
Nutritional values are approximate and may vary based on specific ingredients and preparation methods.
Sarah Chen is a professional recipe developer and food editor with over a decade of experience in test kitchens and food media. She trained at the Culinary Institute of America before spending six years developing and testing recipes for national food publications, where she honed her ability to translate restaurant techniques into approachable home cooking. At RecipePool, Sarah leads recipe development, ensuring every dish is tested at least three times for clarity, accuracy, and genuine deliciousness. When she is not in the kitchen, she is browsing farmers markets and collecting vintage cookbooks.
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