Eight Treasure Stuffed Melon
A classic Chinese dessert featuring a sweet cantaloupe filled with a fragrant glutinous rice and dried fruit mixture, steamed to perfection.
Ingredients
11 items- Cantaloupe (muskmelon) 1
- Glutinous rice 100g
- Dried lotus seeds 15g
- Red dates (jujubes) 3
- Dried longan 10g
- Raisins 10g
- Walnuts 10g
- Sugar 20g
- Lard or butter 10g
- Honey or osmanthus syrup to taste
- Pine nuts a pinch
Nutrition
Steps （6 steps）
Soak glutinous rice for 4 hours; soften lotus seeds and remove cores, dice red dates, chop longan and raisins, break walnuts. Wash cantaloupe, cut off top quarter, and scoop out seeds to form a bowl.
Drain soaked rice and mix well with softened lotus seeds, diced dates, chopped longan, raisins, walnuts, sugar, and lard.
Place mixture in a steamer-safe bowl, add 50ml water, and steam over high heat for 30 minutes until rice is soft and sticky and lotus seeds are tender.
Scoop the cooked eight-treasure rice into the cantaloupe bowl, pressing firmly to fill all gaps without deforming the melon.
Cover with melon lid, place in deep dish with a bit of water, and steam over high heat for 15 minutes until melon skin softens and flesh becomes translucent.
Remove from steamer, uncover, drizzle with honey or osmanthus syrup, sprinkle with pine nuts, and serve hot.
Tips
Choose a melon that is ripe but still firm; do not over-steam or it may collapse. The glutinous rice must be soaked thoroughly for even cooking. The filling can be customized with goji berries, sunflower seeds, or other dried fruits.
You May Also Like
More recipes you might enjoy
Ants Climbing a Tree
Ants Climbing a Tree is a classic Sichuan dish where glass noodles absorb the savory flavor of minced pork and spicy bean paste, creating a silky and hearty meal that's perfect over rice.
Kung Pao Chicken
A classic Sichuan dish featuring chicken, peanuts, and dried chili peppers, balanced with spicy, sweet, and sour flavors. It is a beloved favorite.
Sichuan Boiled Beef (Shui Zhu Niu Rou)
A fiery and aromatic masterpiece of Sichuan cuisine: tender beef slices in a robust broth, topped with sizzling chili oil. This classic dish delights with its numbing spiciness and rich layers of flavor.
Jiaozi (Chinese Dumplings)
Jiaozi, a traditional Chinese delicacy, symbolizes family reunion and prosperity, especially during Chinese New Year. Thin-skinned, succulent, and savory, these dumplings burst with juicy goodness when dipped in a tangy vinegar-garlic sauce. Making them from scratch is a wonderful, fulfilling experience.