Kitchen Recipe Collection
Ci Fan Tuan (Sticky Rice Roll)
A hearty, portable breakfast roll. Chewy steamed sticky rice wrapped tightly around a crunchy Youtiao, savory pork floss, and pickled mustard greens.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 30 min
- Total
- 50 min
- Servings
- 2
- Difficulty
- medium
- Cuisine
- Chinese
Ingredients
Scaled for 2 servings
- 1 1/2 cups glutinous rice (sticky rice), soaked overnight
- 1/2 cup purple/black glutinous rice (optional, mixed in)
- 1 Youtiao (Chinese fried dough stick), cut in half
- 1/4 cup pork floss (Rousong)
- 2 tbsp Zha Cai (Sichuan pickled mustard greens), chopped
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 1/2 tsp sugar
Equipment
- Steamer
- Sushi bamboo mat
- Plastic wrap or damp cloth
Instructions
- 1
Soak Rice
Ensure the glutinous rice has soaked for at least 4 hours, or overnight.
- 2
Steam Rice
Drain the rice, place it on a cheesecloth in a steamer, and steam for 30 minutes until chewy and translucent.
- 3
Prepare Pork Floss
Mix the pork floss with the toasted sesame seeds and a pinch of sugar.
- 4
Prepare Zha Cai
Chop the pickled mustard greens finely. They provide the necessary salty, sour crunch.
- 5
Reheat Youtiao
Bake or air-fry the Youtiao for a few minutes so it is shatteringly crisp.
- 6
Setup Wrapping Station
Lay down a bamboo sushi mat. Cover it completely with a sheet of plastic wrap (or a damp cotton cloth).
- 7
Spread Rice
Spread a hot, even layer of steamed sticky rice onto the plastic wrap in a rectangular shape.
- 8
Add Fillings
Sprinkle the pork floss and chopped pickles evenly down the center of the rice.
- 9
Add Youtiao
Place the crispy Youtiao directly in the middle of the fillings.
- 10
Roll Tightly
Using the mat, lift the rice over the Youtiao, wrapping it completely. Squeeze the roll very firmly.
- 11
Twist Ends
Twist the ends of the plastic wrap like a candy wrapper to compress the rice into a tight, dense log.
- 12
Slice and Serve
Unwrap, slice in half diagonally, and eat warm.
Cooking Tips
- The rice must be hot when you roll it, otherwise it will not stick together and form a cohesive log.
- The Youtiao must be very crispy, as the contrast between the chewy rice and the crunchy center is the whole point of the dish.
Variations
- Sweet Fan Tuan: Omit the pickles and pork floss, and fill with Youtiao, sugar, and black sesame paste.
- Purple Rice: Mix regular white sticky rice with black sticky rice for a beautiful purple hue and nuttier flavor.
Nutrition Estimate
450 calories · 12g protein · 75g carbs · 10g fat · 2g fiber per serving
