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Xôi mặn
Xôi mặn: Saigon savoury sticky rice with Chinese sausage, pork floss and quail eggs
VietnameseIn Ho Chi Minh City, xôi mặn is bought from a street cart in a banana leaf or a foam box and eaten at your desk for breakfast or lunch: chewy sticky rice under sweet slices of lạp xưởng (Chinese pork sausage), pork floss, braised quail eggs, spring onion oil and crisp shallots. Soak the rice for at least 4 hours or overnight before you start. The common mistake is steaming unsoaked rice, which stays hard in the middle. Chef's tip: sprinkle the rice with salted water halfway through steaming and fluff it, so every grain turns glossy and evenly soft.
- Total time
- 70 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the sticky rice
- 14 oz glutinous ricesoaked at least 4 hours, drained
- 1 tsp saltdissolved in 4 tbsp water
For the toppings
- 3 Chinese pork sausages (lạp xưởng)sliced on the diagonal
- 12 quail eggsboiled 4 minutes, peeled
- 1 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 tsp sugar
- ½ cup water
- 1 ⅜ oz pork floss
- 3 tbsp crisp fried shallots
For the spring onion oil
- 4 spring onionssliced
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Steam 14 oz glutinous rice in a muslin-lined steamer over a high heat for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with 1 tsp salt, fluff with chopsticks and steam for 15–20 minutes more, until every grain is soft and shiny.
40 minStep 2: Meanwhile, fry 3 Chinese pork sausages (lạp xưởng) in a dry pan over a medium heat for 4–5 minutes until the fat runs and the edges caramelise.
5 minStep 3: Simmer 12 quail eggs with 1 tbsp fish sauce, 1 tsp sugar and ½ cup water for 5–6 minutes, rolling them, until the liquid is syrupy and the eggs are golden.
6 minStep 4: Heat 3 tbsp vegetable oil until shimmering and pour it over 4 spring onions in a heatproof bowl; it should sizzle.
Step 5: Divide the rice between boxes, spoon over the spring onion oil, then top with sausage, quail eggs, 1 ⅜ oz pork floss and 3 tbsp crisp fried shallots. Keep cool and eat the same day.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 560 kcal
- Protein
- 20 g
- Carbs
- 80 g
- Fat
- 17 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does xôi mặn take?
- About 70 minutes in total: 25 minutes to prepare and 45 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- What can I use instead of glutinous rice?
- Any long-grain rice, same amount.
- What can I use instead of quail eggs?
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water per egg, left for 5 minutes (baking only; vegan).
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