Salty Zong Zi

4 cups glutinous rice
1/4 cup dried shrimp
4 1/2 Tbsp soy sauce, divided
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper, divided
2/3 lb pork flank or sliced bacon
1/2 cup peanuts or lotus seeds (optional)
3 Chinese black mushrooms
2 Tbsp sliced fried shallots
1/2 Tbsp cooking wine
1 tsp sugar
4 Tbsp oil
40 bamboo leaves
20 pieces of string

Rinse the rice until the water runs clear then soak it in water for 3 hours; drain and divide it into 10 portions. Wash the bamboo leaves and strings then boil them for 5 minutes; remove and drain.

Filling: Cut the pork and mushrooms into 20 pieces each; marinade them with 3 Tbsp soy sauce, 2 Tbsp sliced, fried shallots, 1/2 Tbsp cooking wine, 1 tsp sugar, and 1/4 tsp pepper.

Heat the pan then add 4 Tbsp oil; stir-fry the dried shrimp until fragrant. Add the rice and 1 1/2 Tbsp soy sauce, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 t pepper; stir until mixed well.

Lengthwise, overlap 2 leaves together then bend them to form a conical shape (To use as a wrapper), one end should be longer than the other. Put 1/2 portion of the rice and one piece each of the following in the conical shaped leaves: pork, black mushrooms. Cover ingredients with the other half of the rice.

Wrap the leaves and tie them with a string. Place the finished ”Zong Zi” in a pot then add water to cover. Bring the water to a boil; turn the heat to low and cook the “Zong Zi” covered for 1 hour or until the rice is cooked; remove and serve.

The filling may be changed according to individual preference.

Adapted from http://www.recipecottage.com/asian/jungdz.html