Autumn’s Elixir: Sweet and Nutritious Steamed Pumpkin Rice
Autumn’s Elixir: Sweet and Nutritious Steamed Pumpkin Rice
A Special Steamed Pumpkin Rice Recipe Made with Seasonal Autumn Ingredients
Discover a hearty and nutritious autumn delicacy by preparing this steamed pumpkin rice, packed with fresh seasonal mushrooms, sweet pumpkin, and plump shrimp. We hollow out a sweet pumpkin, fill it with nutritious black rice, and steam it to perfection. The naturally sweet and tender pumpkin combined with the wholesome black rice makes this dish incredibly satisfying, like a nourishing tonic. Enjoy this delightful meal that warms you from the inside out.
Ingredients (Serves 2-3)- 1 medium pumpkin
- 1 cup short-grain rice
- 1/2 cup glutinous rice (sweet rice)
- 20g black rice
- 50g black beans (soaked overnight)
- 2 peeled and deveined shrimp
- 2 dried shiitake mushrooms (soaked)
- 5 dates (pitted)
- A small amount of carrot (for garnish)
- A small amount of pine nuts (for garnish)
- 1 teaspoon salt
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Begin by preparing all your ingredients for a delicious steamed pumpkin rice. Rinse the short-grain rice and glutinous rice, then soak them in water for about 30 minutes to achieve a chewier and more flavorful texture. Ensure your black beans have been soaked overnight until tender.
Step 2
In a rice cooker, combine the soaked short-grain rice, glutinous rice, black rice, and soaked black beans. Add slightly less water than you normally would for plain rice, and stir in 1 teaspoon of salt. Cook this mixture to create a nutritious base with the black rice and beans.
Step 3
Wash the pumpkin thoroughly. Cut off the top quarter to create a lid. Using a spoon, carefully scoop out all the seeds and stringy insides. To help the pumpkin hold its shape during steaming, thinly peel about 1 cm of the outer skin along the bottom edge where the lid meets the body.
Step 4
Pit the dates by slicing around the core and removing it. Then, thinly slice them into strips. Rehydrate the dried shiitake mushrooms by soaking them in warm water. Once soft, drain them, gently squeeze out excess water, and slice them thinly, similar to the dates.
Step 5
Once the black rice mixture is cooked, let it cool slightly. Gently fold in the sliced dates, mixing carefully to avoid mashing the rice grains. Ensure the dates are evenly distributed throughout the rice.
Step 6
Spoon the date-infused black rice mixture into the hollowed-out pumpkin. Pack the rice firmly into the pumpkin cavity, pressing down gently. Avoid overfilling; aim to fill the pumpkin about 80-90% full to prevent overflow during steaming.
Step 7
Arrange the sliced shiitake mushrooms and the prepared shrimp decoratively on top of the packed rice inside the pumpkin. For an extra touch of color and flair, you can cut the carrot into thin slices and shape them into small flowers or other decorative elements.
Step 8
Place the filled pumpkin into a steamer. Cover the steamer tightly and steam over medium-high heat for approximately 15 to 20 minutes. The pumpkin should become tender, and the rice inside should be heated through. You can check for doneness by inserting a chopstick or fork into the pumpkin; it should slide in easily. This indicates your steamed pumpkin rice is ready.
Step 9
Once steamed, sprinkle the top of the pumpkin rice with pine nuts for a beautiful garnish and added crunch. Serve immediately while warm, or let it cool slightly before slicing into individual portions for easy serving. Enjoy this sweet, satisfying, and incredibly healthy pumpkin rice for a truly nourishing meal!
