Sticky Rice Dumplings (Banh It Tran)

Sticky Rice Dumplings

Banh It Tran

Dough
1 bag Glutinous Rice Flour (16 oz)
1 1/2 cups water (add more as needed)
Pinch of Salt
1/3 tsp Mushroom Seasoning
A little bit of oil

Mix the flour and water together.  Add in a pinch of Salt, 1/3 tsp Mushroom Seasoning, and a little bit of oil.  Continue to mix, if dough seems too dry add a little bit of water.
Wrap the top of the bowl.  Let the dough sit for about 10 Minutes.

Filling

Mung Bean:
1 cup Mung Bean (soaked in water for 4 hrs)
1 pinch of Salt
1 piece Wood Ear Mushroom (soaked in water until it has expanded)
Pork:
1/2 cup Pork
1 tsp oil
Minced Garlic
Shallots:
1/2 cup Shallots
1 tbs oil
Dried Shrimp:
1/2 cup Dried Shrimp (soaked in water overnight)
1 tsp Minced Garlic
1 tsp oil

Topping:
1 Chopped Green Onion Stalk
1 tbs oil
2 tbs Chopped Dried Shrimp
1 tsp oil
few Annatto Seeds

Other:
Banana Leaves
Fish Sauce

Step 1:
Rinse the Mung Bean.  Put in a small pot, pour enough water that it covers the Mung Bean, and add in a pinch of Salt.
Cook until the water has been absorbed.  Remove from stove and set aside.
Chop the pork, Wood Ear Mushroom, Garlic Clovers, and Dried Shrimp.
Cut the Shallots into thing slices.

Step 2:
Add 1 tsp of oil and some minced Garlic.  Stir for 1 minute and add in the Pork.
Stir-fry the pork until it is no longer pink. Set aside.
Saute the Shallots with 1 tbs of oil.

Step 3:
Put in 1 tsp of oil and 1 tsp minced Garlic into pan. Stir-fry the Dried Shrimp until it is cooked.
Save about 2 tbs of Dried Shrimp to sprinkles on top of the dumplings later.

Step 4:
With the remaining Dried Shrimp.  Add in the saute Shallots, Pork, Wood Ear Mushroom, and Mung Bean. 
Using low heat, mix all the ingredients.
Add in 1 tsp of Sugar. Continue to mix for another 2 minutes.  Set aside to cool.
Once it is cool roll it into small little balls.

Topping
1 Chopped Green Onion Stalk and 2 tbs oil. 
In a pan put 2 tbs oil and the chopped Green Onion over medium heat.  Stir for 1 minute and remove from stove. Put in small bowl.

1 tsp of oil a few Annatto Seed.  Stir and throw away the seeds once the oil has an orangy color.
Add in the 2 tbs of Dried Shrimp. Stir for a few seconds.  This step is really optional.  The Annatto Seed helps gives more color to the Dried Shrimp.
Cut the Banana Leaves into little circles.

Making the dumplings:

Step 1:
Divide the dough into equal pieces.
Take one piece of the dough.  Flatten it and then place the filling in the middle and seal it up.
Put 1 large banana leaf in the steamer. 
Place the dumpling on the the banana leaf circle, spread a little oil on the leaf so it will not stick.
Steam for 8-10 minutes.

Step 2:
Place on a plate.  Spread some cooked Green Onions and Sprinkle some Dried Shrimp on top.
Serve with Fish Sauce.