Nagaland Naga Tribal Pork Rice Cake Festival Steamed

Ingredients

• 1.5 cups sticky rice (glutinous rice) — soaked overnight
• 200g pork — minced or very finely chopped
• 2 tbsp axone (fermented soybean)
• 3 garlic cloves — finely chopped
• 1 green chilli — very finely chopped
• Salt
• 6 banana leaf squares — 20 x 20 cm each

Method

1. Drain soaked sticky rice. Steam in a cloth-lined steamer for 20 to 25 minutes until just cooked and sticky.
2. Make the pork filling: combine minced pork with axone, finely chopped garlic and green chilli.
3. Season with salt. Stir-fry in a dry pan on medium heat for 5 to 6 minutes until cooked through.
4. Soften banana leaf squares by briefly passing over a gas flame.
5. Take 3 to 4 tbsp of sticky rice. Flatten into a round in your palm.
6. Place 2 tbsp pork-axone filling in the centre.
7. Fold the sticky rice around the filling and shape into a compact oval.
8. Place on a banana leaf square. Wrap the leaf around the rice cake. Fold in the sides.
9. Steam the wrapped packages on medium heat for 12 to 15 minutes until heated through.
10. Open the banana leaf at the table.