【Sichuan】Panda version of leaf cake

Overview

Ye'er cake (also called pig cake, duck cake) is a very famous traditional local delicacy in Yibin, Sichuan (the hometown of Wuliangye). Because it is wrapped with galangal leaves, it is called Yeerba. Ye'er cake is made with exquisite selection of materials and fine craftsmanship. It has the characteristics of green color, beautiful shape, softness and refreshing taste. It is one of the famous snacks in Sichuan. As a local specialty of Yibin City, Sichuan, we have to mention another Yibin specialty for making fillings - bean sprouts. Bean sprouts are one of the indispensable seasonings for making the most authentic Ye'er cake. The stir-fried meat fillings of bean sprouts and pork are wrapped in glutinous rice flour and wrapped with galangal leaves. After steaming, the aroma is rich and glutinous in the mouth. Because of everyone's love for Ye'er cake, it has been widely spread to various places. Each place has made changes according to local tastes, and formulated new varieties such as sweet Ye'er cake. Yeer cake can now be seen and eaten in Luzhou, Chengdu, Jianwei County of Leshan City and other places, but the cooking method is slightly different. However, in my memory the ye rake is made from fresh pomelo leaves wrapped and steamed. The choice of grapefruit leaves is very particular. If they have not been grafted, the wild ones are the best. Because the fragrance of wild grapefruit leaves is very strong, it is particularly intriguing. When I was in elementary school, I was walking home from school on the gravel road not far from home, and I smelled the strong aroma of steamed grapefruit leaves. Sure enough, when we got home, grandma and mother made leaf rake at home, and the steamer was still steaming. Just smelling this smell makes you salivate. Every New Year, my grandma and my mother would make leaf rake in advance, because my father and I like to eat sweet things. So we will make some bean paste flavors for us separately. Because I was in high school at that time, I would help my grandma at home during the winter vacation. I am responsible for washing the grapefruit leaves, and my grandmother and mother are responsible for filling the stuffing and raking the leaves. The main ingredients of Yeer Raking are glutinous rice flour, pork, dried tofu, etc. Every time she makes leaf rake, my grandma will soak the glutinous rice in water in advance, and then mix the soaked glutinous rice with a certain amount of water at home and beat it into glutinous rice. Then, use a well-sealed cloth bag (this kind of cloth bag was often used to make tofu at home when I was a child, but it is probably rare now.) and tighten the opening, and put a heavy object on the bag. The glutinous rice milk will gradually drain away the water and turn into glutinous rice dough that can be formed. Next, Ye'er rake the stuffing, mince fresh pork into minced meat, pour an appropriate amount of rapeseed oil into the pot and stir-fry over low heat until the excess oil is stirred out to reveal the aroma. Then add bean sprouts, chopped dried tofu and continue to stir-fry until fragrant, and the filling is ready. This time, some changes have been made to the appearance of Ye'erba, making it look like a panda unique to Sichuan.

Tags

• snacks
• sichuan cuisine
• sichuan snacks
• bamboo charcoal powder
• dried tofu
• glutinous rice flour
• grapefruit leaves
• olive oil
• pork
• rapeseed oil
• sprouts
• water

Ingredients

Steps

1. 1 Peel the pork and mince it into minced meat.

   

2. 2 Clean and chop the tofu.

   

3. 3 Pour an appropriate amount of rapeseed oil into the pot, add the pork after the oil is cooked and scalded, and simmer over low heat until excess oil comes out. Stir until fragrant, preferably dry.

   

4. 4 Then add bean sprouts and dried tofu and continue to stir-fry until fragrant.

   

5. 5 The filling of the leaf cake is ready.

   

6. 6 Wash and dry grapefruit leaves and set aside.

   

7. 7 Add appropriate amount of water to the glutinous rice flour and knead until there are no lumps. Take out a small portion and add bamboo charcoal powder and knead until it forms a ball. Set aside.

   

8. 8 Apply some olive oil on the grapefruit leaves.

   

9. 9 Take a small portion, roll it into a ball, flatten it and add an appropriate amount of filling.

   

10. 10 Roll into a round shape and tighten with the opening facing downwards.

    

11. 11 Then place the wrapped leaf cake on top of the grapefruit leaves.

    

12. 12 Take a small portion of the black glutinous rice dough and pinch out the facial features of the panda respectively and paste them on the opposite sides of the wrapped leaf cake.

    

13. 13 Then steam the prepared leaf cake until thoroughly cooked. Leave on low heat for about 10-15 minutes.

    

14. 14 The fragrant panda version of leaf cake is ready.