Lo Mai Gai (糯米雞)
What is Lo Mai Gai?
Lo Mai Gai translate to Sticky Chicken Rice which is a classic dimsum dish found in Cantonese cuisine. This dish features succulent chicken, glutinous rice, and array of aromatics!
Is lotus leaf essential to making this?
While lotus leaf is traditionally used to wrap and steam Lo Mai Gai, there are substitutions such as banana leaves. However, I personally think the lotus leaf is what makes this dish stand out because of the unique aromatic flavor it adds to the dish. When you steam the sticky rice in the lotus leaf, the moisture and heat from the steam infuses into the rice which creates the earthy notes.
Where can you buy lotus leaf?
Lotus leaf can be found at any Asian grocery store, typically where the dried mushrooms are. But, if you can’t find it, Amazon has everything just double the price as in stores.
PREP: 2-3 hours
COOK: 25 mins
SERVES: 4-6
Ingredients:
lotus leaf (4-6 pieces)
dehydrated shiitake mushrooms (6-8 pieces)
1 Chinese sausage (sliced)
roughly 1/2lb boneless chicken thigh (cut into bite size pieces)
18oz InnovAsian Sticky White Rice
Marinade for chicken:
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp sesame oil
1/2 tbsp cornstarch
1/2 tsp sugar
1/8 tsp chicken powder
1/8 tsp white pepper
2 tsp dark soy sauce
1.5 tbsp soy sauce
1.5 tbsp oyster sauce
1.5 tbsp cooking wine
Extra seasonings for rice:
1 spoon of light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, oyster sauce
2 tsp Chinese 5 spice
1 spoon cornstarch (1:2 ratio with water)
Directions:
Rehydrate lotus leaf in cold water for 2 hours
Rehydrate shiitake mushrooms with 1 cup of cold water for 2 hours
Marinate chicken with the seasonings listed above for 2 hours
Microwave InnovAsian Sticky White Rice for 3mins, let it cool down and save for later
Cut shiitake mushrooms into slices, saving the liquid
Cut Chinese sausage in thin slices
Cook Chinese sausage on low heat until it is glossy and take out
Cook chicken for 3-4 mins then add in sliced mushrooms and the mushroom water
Let that come to a boil and take out the chicken and mushroom
Add in the extra seasonings to the liquid with the seasonings above
Turn off heat, add in Sticky White Rice and coat every grain of rice
Add in chicken, sausage, and mushrooms to sticky white rice and mix until all the ingredients are mixed evenly
Wrap in lotus leaf and steam for 20 mins and 5 mins with heat off
