Fan Tuan (also known as Stuffed Rice Rolls) is a popular Chinese breakfast dish often enjoyed in Taiwan and other parts of East Asia. It’s a savory, portable rice roll filled with a variety of delicious ingredients like pickled vegetables, crispy fried dough, and savory meats or tofu, all wrapped in a layer of sticky rice and sometimes nori. Fan Tuan is hearty, satisfying, and offers a perfect balance of textures and flavors. It’s commonly served for breakfast but makes a great snack or lunch.
Ingredients:
- For the Rice:
- 2 cups glutinous rice (sticky rice)
- 2 ½ cups water (for cooking the rice)
- 1 tbsp soy sauce (optional, for extra flavor)
- 1 tsp sesame oil (optional)
- For the Filling:
- 2 large Chinese crullers (youtiao) or crispy fried dough (can be found at Asian grocery stores)
- 2 eggs, scrambled or fried (optional, for extra protein)
- 1 cucumber, julienned
- 1 small carrot, julienned
- ¼ cup pickled mustard greens or pickled radish (for tangy crunch)
- 2 tbsp hoisin sauce or sweet soy sauce (for a little sweetness)
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds (optional, for garnish)
- 1 sheet nori (seaweed), cut into strips (optional for extra flavor)
- Fresh cilantro leaves (optional, for garnish)
Directions:
- Cook the Rice:
- Rinse the glutinous rice under cold water until the water runs clear. This helps remove excess starch.
- In a saucepan or rice cooker, combine the rinsed rice and 2 ½ cups of water. Cook the rice according to the rice cooker instructions or bring it to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook covered for about 20 minutes, or until the rice is soft and sticky.
- Once cooked, you can stir in 1 tablespoon of soy sauce and sesame oil to season the rice, or you can leave it plain for a milder flavor.
- Prepare the Fillings:
- If using Chinese crullers (youtiao), heat them up or fry them fresh. Slice them into 2-3 inch pieces to fit inside the rice roll.
- Scramble or fry the eggs, and set aside.
- Prepare the vegetables: julienne the cucumber and carrot, and have your pickled mustard greens or radish ready.
- Optionally, prepare your hoisin sauce or sweet soy sauce for drizzling inside the rice roll.
- Assemble the Fan Tuan:
- On a clean surface (you can use a bamboo mat or a clean kitchen towel), lay down a sheet of plastic wrap or parchment paper to help with rolling.
- Spread the cooked sticky rice evenly on the surface, about ½ inch thick.
- Arrange your fillings in the center of the rice: a few pieces of Chinese cruller, scrambled or fried eggs, julienned cucumber and carrot, pickled vegetables, and a drizzle of hoisin or sweet soy sauce. You can also add some sesame seeds and fresh cilantro for garnish at this stage.
- If you want to add nori, you can place a strip on top of the rice before adding the fillings.
- Roll the Fan Tuan:
- Carefully fold in the sides of the rice to partially cover the filling, then roll it tightly from one end to the other, keeping the filling snug inside.
- Once you’ve formed a roll, use the plastic wrap or parchment paper to help shape and tighten the roll.
- If you prefer, you can slice the roll into 2-3 smaller pieces for easier serving.
- Serve:
- Slice the roll in half if desired and enjoy immediately! Fan Tuan is often eaten warm but can also be enjoyed cold for a quick snack or lunch.
Tip: You can customize the filling to your taste by adding tofu, tempeh, or vegetarian substitutes for the egg or Chinese cruller. Fan Tuan can also be made sweet by substituting savory ingredients with things like fruit or sweetened red bean paste for a fun twist!
