Healthier dumplings on the menu
Multi-grain and brown rice dumplings are on the menus of many restaurants this year
Rice dumpling season is coming, but white rice has been linked to diabetes in a report the Health Promotion Board released earlier this month, based on a study by the Harvard School of Public Health.
In response, restaurants are offering healthier rice dumpling options. Instead of using just glutinous rice, some restaurants are throwing in a variety of mixed grains as well as brown rice.
Eating mixed grains or brown rice is one of the recommended ways to reduce the risk of diabetes.
Pan Pacific Singapore's Chinese restaurant Hai Tien Lo's Fragrant Red Bean Dumpling with Multi- Grain Rice has had its glutinous rice completely replaced with a mixture of brown rice, oats, pearl barley, buckwheat, sorghum and black glutinous rice.
It introduced this multi-grain rice dumpling because of "increasing demand from guests who want healthier ingredients," says Mr Sumanth Das, 40, the hotel's director of restaurants, bar and events.
The hotel also offers diners the option of brown rice at all its dining outlets at no additional charge.
This year, Orchard Hotel's Hua Ting restaurant is bringing back its brown rice dumpling with trio of mushrooms and black summer truffle paste - a healthier alternative which was well-received when it was introduced last year.
The dumpling is made with 70-per cent brown rice and 30-per cent white glutinous rice, which helps retain its shape and stickiness, says the hotel's general manager Richard Ong.
Sales of the brown rice dumpling have so far been comparable to last year, when it made up about 35 per cent of the total sales of rice dumplings. Mr Ong expects a surge in sales in the week before the Dragon Boat Festival, on June 9.
But for those who do not mind eating white rice, there are plenty of unusual flavours to pick from.
Some establishments are also selling rice dumplings for the first time. They include soya bean chain Mr Bean, with its soya floss dumpling, and Chinese restaurant London Fat Duck's duck and pork belly dumpling.
Golden Peony restaurant at Conrad Centennial Singapore goes local with a Singapore chilli crab rice dumpling with chilli crab sauce, while Regent Singapore's Summer Palace restaurant offers a more exotic crocodile meat and XO sauce rice dumpling.
On the choice of meat, Summer Palace's dim sum chef Leong Kwok Sing, 55, says: "Crocodile meat has been on our menu and is Chinese executive chef Liu Ching Hai's speciality.
"The steaming enhances the umami flavour of the signature XO sauce."
Multi-grain dumplings
ORGANIC BARLEY AND QUINOA DUMPLING
What: Tangerine restaurant, known for its nutritious spa cuisine, debuts an organic barley and quinoa dumpling with chestnut puree and morel mushrooms. It is part of the rice dumpling set ($78 nett) of five dumplings presented in a three-tiered bamboo steamer for takeaway.
Where: Feng Shui Inn, Crockfords Tower, Resorts World Sentosa, Level G2
When: Until June 9, noon to 8pm daily. Pre-orders close on June 6
Info: Call 6577-6599 or e-mail fengshuiinn@rwsentosa.com
VEGETARIAN FIVE-GRAIN AND CORDYCEP FUNGUS GLUTINOUS RICE DUMPLING
What: The vegetarian dumpling ($8.90) comprises shiitake mushroom, vegetarian ham, peanuts, cordycep fungus and grains, such as barley, and brown rice.
Where: The Fullerton Shop or Jade restaurant, The Fullerton Hotel Singapore, 1 Fullerton Square
When: Until June 9, 11.30am to 3pm, 6.30 to 11pm daily
Info: Call 6877-8178 (The Fullerton Shop) or 6877-8188 (Jade restaurant). E-mail fullertonshop @fullertonhotel.com or jade@fullertonhotel.com
STEAMED BLACK TRUFFLES HEALTHY VEGETARIAN ORGANIC BLACK GLUTINOUS RICE WITH MIXED GRAINS AND MIXED NUTS ZHANG
What: Try Peony Jade's black truffle vegetarian dumpling with mixed grains and mixed nuts or the steamed premium mixed grains with Iberico pork, chestnuts, shiitake mushroom, Sakura ebi and salted egg yolk dumpling. $12.90+ each.
Where: Peony Jade's two outlets at Keppel Club, Bukit Chermin Road, Level M; and Block 3A Clarke Quay, 02-02
When: Until June 9, 11am to 2.30pm (weekday), 10am to 3pm (weekend), 6 to 11pm, daily
Info: Call 6276-9138 or 6375-5562 (Keppel Club), 6338-0305 (Clarke Quay)
FRAGRANT RED BEAN DUMPLING WITH MULTI-GRAIN RICE
What: In this dumpling ($9.90), glutinous rice is completely replaced with brown rice, oats, pearl barley, buckwheat, sorghum, black glutinous rice, millet and Job's tears.
It is also part of the Premium Rice Dumplings gift set ($69.90) with two other flavours and Hai Tien Lo's signature XO chilli sauce.
Where: Hai Tien Lo, Level 3, Pan Pacific Singapore, 7 Raffles Boulevard
When: Until June 9, 11.30am to 2.30pm, 6.30 to 10.30pm daily
Info: Call 6826-8240, e-mail celebrate.sin@panpacific.com or order online at pacificmarketplace.sg or purchase at Hai Tien Lo (level three, Pan Pacific Singapore)
FIVE-GRAIN RICE DUMPLING WITH SHREDDED COCONUT
What: Chinese restaurant Peach Garden has two five-grain rice dumplings ($9.80+ each). One is filled with shredded coconut, honey dates, raisins, persimmon, candied winter melon and grains such as barley. The other is filled with mung beans, green beans, black-eyed beans, vegetarian abalone and vegetarian ham. Both dumplings include glutinous rice and black glutinous rice.
Where: Peach Garden outlets including OCBC Centre, Thomson Plaza and Orchid Country Club
When: Until June 9. Order three days in advance
Info: For full list of restaurants and to order online, go to www.peachgardeneshop.com
Local flavours
BEEF RENDANG RICE DUMPLING
What: The classic beef rendang dish gets the dumpling treatment ($10.80 nett). Beef cheeks are braised in an aromatic and spicy coconut gravy and complemented by glutinous rice.
Where: Tea Hut (entrance of InterContinental Singapore, via Bugis Junction) or Man Fu Yuan, 80 Middle Road
When: Until June 9, noon to 9pm daily (Tea Hut) or 11.45am to 3pm and 6.30 to 10.30pm daily (Man Fu Yuan)
Info: Call 6825-1008 or e-mail inter continental.dining@ihg.com
SINGAPORE CHILLI CRAB RICE DUMPLING
What: Savour the iconic chilli crab in a dumpling. The dumpling ($28) is filled with crab meat and comes with a house-made chilli crab sauce.
Where: Golden Peony, Level 3, or The Terrace (Lobby), Conrad Centennial Singapore, 2 Temasek Boulevard
When: Until June 9, Golden Peony: 11.30am to 2.30pm (Monday to Saturday), 10.30am to 2.30pm (Sunday), 6.30 to 10.30pm daily; The Terrace: 7am to 10pm (weekday), 10am to 10pm (weekend)
Info: Call 6432-7482/88 (Golden Peony), 6432-7487 (The Terrace) or e-mail sinci.fb@conradhotels. com
WAGYU BEEF CHEEK RENDANG DUMPLING
What: Australian wagyu beef cheek is slow-cooked with potatoes and a house-made rempah with spices such as lemongrass, star anise and cardamom. The meat is wrapped in yellow-hued turmeric glutinous rice. The dumpling is priced at $11.80++ (dine-in) or $12.65 nett (takeaway).
Where: Min Jiang's outlets at Goodwood Park Hotel, 22 Scotts Road, and Min Jiang at One North, 5 Rochester Park When: Until June 9, Goodwood Park Hotel: 11.30am to 2.30pm (Monday to Saturday), 11am to 2.30pm (Sunday), 6.30 to 10.30pm daily; One North: 11.30am to 2.30pm, 6.30 to 10.30pm daily
Info: Call 6730-1704 (Min Jiang) or 6774-0122 (Min Jiang at One-North)
New players
SOYA FLOSS DUMPLING
What: Mr Bean, best known for its soya bean drinks, has launched three vegetarian dumplings ($3.80 each, three for $10; 10 for $30). One has soya floss with soya protein and chilli, while the other two are filled with chestnuts, kidney beans and mushrooms.
Where: All Mr Bean outlets including Ang Mo Kio Hub, Changi City Point and VivoCity
When: Until June 8, various opening hours
Info: For full list of outlets and to order online, go to www.mrbean.com.sg/eshop
RED YEAST FOIE GRAS AND DUCK RICE DUMPLING
What: Cantonese restaurant Mitzo introduces foie gras and duck rice dumpling ($20++); truffle Kurobuta pork rice dumpling ($18++); and osmanthus rice dumpling with brown sugar and osmanthus honey ($15++ a pair).
Where: Mitzo Restaurant & Bar, Level 4, Grand Park Orchard, 270 Orchard Road
When: Until June 9, noon to 2.30pm, 6.30 to 10.30pm daily
Info: Call 6603-8855
LONDON DUCK DUMPLING
What: Chinese restaurant London Fat Duck's dumpling features its signature duck meat with braised pork belly, chestnut, salted egg yolk and green bean. It is priced at $6.80 (mini) and $13.80 (regular).
Where: London Fat Duck outlets at Scotts Square, 6 Scotts Road, B1-16/17; and Waterway Point, 83 Punggol Central, 01-23
When: Until June 9, 11am to 10pm (weekday), 10am to 10pm (weekend)
Info: Call 6443-7866 (Scotts Square) or 6385-9557 (Waterway Point)
SAMBAL HOTATE DUMPLING
What: Restaurant chain TCC introduces flavours such as sambal hotate ($7.90), teriyaki unagi ($7.90) and spicy chic ($6.50) - in the style of onigiri (Japanese rice balls).
Where: All TCC outlets including Ion Orchard, Novena Square and Bugis Junction
When: Until June 12, various opening hours
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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on May 29, 2016, with the headline Healthier dumplings on the menu. Subscribe
