Boil Shrimp and Chicken Dumpling (Bánh bột lọc))

Clear rice cake or Bánh bột lọc is a traditional dish from the central region of Vietnam. It is a type of dumpling made from starch and filled with various ingredients. The original recipe uses tapioca starch, but I will show you how to make a healthier version with arrowroot powder. I will also show you two machines that can help you make the cake without kneading the dough or wrapping them in banana leaf, which is hard to find in the US. The machines are mini griddle and mini baby pop cake, which you can buy on Amazon. This easy version does not compromise the taste of the cake, but it makes your life easier. You can enjoy this delicious snack without any hassle. Now how to make Vietnamese rice cakes with meat and shrimp filling 

Ingredients:

- 1 cup arrowroot flour

- 2 tbsp tapioca starch

- 75 ml room temperature water

- 100 ml boiling water

- 1/8 tsp salt

- 2 oz. ground turkey or chicken

- 2 oz. raw small shrimp, peeled, deveined and chopped

- 1 garlic clove, minced

- 1 shallot, minced

- 1 tbsp fish sauce

- 1/4 tsp sugar

- 1 tsp chicken powder seasoning

- 1 tbsp tomato sauce

- 2 green onions, green part only, sliced

- 1/4 cup oil

- Pinch of salt and sugar

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, whisk together arrowroot flour, tapioca starch and room temperature water until well combined. Add boiling water and continue to whisk until smooth. Add salt and let the batter rest for 20 minutes.

2. To make scallion oil, combine oil, green onions, salt and sugar in a small bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds and set aside.

3. To make Vietnamese dipping sauce, combine equal parts of sugar and fish sauce in a small bowl. Add water and vinegar or lime juice and mix well. Add chopped garlic and chili for your taste.

4. To make filling, heat 1 tbsp oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add shallot and garlic and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add turkey and shrimp and stir-fry for 3 minutes. Add fish sauce, sugar, chicken powder seasoning and tomato sauce and cook until well combined and heated through. Remove from heat and transfer to a bowl.

5. Preheat a cake pop maker or a mini waffle maker with nonstick spray. When it is hot, ladle 2 tbsp of batter onto the machine and add 1 tsp of filling in the middle of the batter. Close the lid and cook for 1 minute or until the batter looks clear. Open the lid and use a spatula to fold the cake in half and remove from the machine. Repeat with the remaining batter and filling.

6. Brush each cake with scallion oil and serve hot or warm with dipping sauce. Enjoy!

The ratio of dipping sauce:

1 tbsp fish sauce

1 tbsp sugar

2 tbsp water

2 tbsp vinegar

You can adjust the ratio of the dipping sauce for your taste