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Chestnut Zongzi served on a plate
Chestnut Zongzi, served with delicious rice dough and sweet chestnuts

Sweet Chestnut Sticky Rice Dumplings (Zongzi)

Author: Flavelo
Recipes Cakes and Desserts
Zongzi is the iconic food of the Dragon Boat Festival: sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves. The technique relies on the high amylopectin content of 'glutinous rice,' which gels and sticks together during cooking, holding the shape. The bamboo leaf isn't just a wrapper; it imparts a subtle, tea-like aroma to the rice during the long simmer.
🕒 Prep Time 4 hrs
🍳 Cook Time 1 hr
⌛ Total Time 5 hrs
🍽️ Servings 4 servings
🔥 Calories 800 kcal
🌍 Cuisine Chinese

Ingredients

Equipment Needed

  • Strong Kitchen Twine (for tying)
  • Large Pot

Allergen Information

⚠️ Tree Nuts

Instructions

1 ✓

Rinse the glutinous rice until water runs clear, then soak in cold water for at least 3 hours (preferably overnight).

Tip: This rice absorbs a lot of water. Without soaking, the center will remain crunchy.
2 ✓

Soak dried bamboo leaves in hot water until pliable, then wipe each leaf with a sponge.

Tip: Leaf flexibility is essential for wrapping. Wipe dry before use.
3 ✓

Simmer the chestnuts in coconut oil with sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla until tender (approx 10 mins).

Tip: This caramelization deepens the flavor.
4 ✓

Mix drained rice with salt. Fold a leaf into a cone, add rice to the bottom, chestnuts in the middle, and cover with more rice.

Tip: Don't overstuff! Rice expands. If there's no room, it will burst the leaf.
5 ✓

Fold the leaf over tightly to form a pyramid and tie securely with twine.

Tip: This is the hard part: the package must be watertight but not bursting at the seams.
6 ✓

Submerge dumplings in a pot of boiling water and cook for 1-1.5 hours. Top up water if needed.

Tip: Long cooking gelatinizes the rice starch, turning it into a cohesive block.

Recipe FAQ

It fell apart while boiling.
You didn't tie it tight enough, or the leaf folding was loose.
Rice stayed hard.
You didn't soak the rice long enough (min 3 hours, preferably overnight), or you wrapped it too tight leaving no room for expansion.

Ingredients

  • 1.5 cups Glutinous Rice (Sweet Rice)
  • 7 oz Chestnuts (peeled, raw or roasted)
  • 1/4 cup Granulated Sugar
  • 0.5 tsp Salt
  • 8 leaves Dried Bamboo Leaves (from Asian market)
  • 1 tbsp Coconut Oil
  • 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
  • 1 tsp Vanilla Sugar (or Extract)