Zhu Tong Fan (Taiwanese Bamboo Rice) - cooking recipe

Ingredients

4 cups glutinous rice
10 dried shiitake mushrooms
1/2 tablespoon dried shrimp
1/2 lb ground pork
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
3 tablespoons dark soy sauce
3 shallots, chopped
sweet chili sauce (garnish)
cilantro leaf, chopped (garnish)

Preparation

Wash the rice thoroughly and drain. Set aside.
In a small bowl, place the dried mushrooms and shrimp. Pour boiling hot water over the items until covered. Allow to sit for 10 minutes, drain and then chop into fine pieces.
Preheat oven to 500 degrees F.
In a hot wok or hot frying pan, stir-fry the pork in the vegetable oil until brown and fully cooked (5-10 minutes). Drain excess oil then add the chopped mushrooms, shrimp, soy sauce and shallots.
Mix well and then divide the mixture between 8 large greased ramekins or pudding bowls. Press down on mixture in each bowl with a spoon.
Add rice to greased ramekins until each one is 2/3 full. Use the spoon to press mixture down firmly. Keep adding rice until mixture is at the 2/3 full level.
Add enough boiling water to each ramekin until level of water is 1/2 inch above level of the rice.
Place the ramekins in a baking pan with sides and fill baking pan with boiling water to about 2 inches. Cover loosely with aluminum foil and place into preheated oven.
Cook for 30-40 minutes. Turn off oven and allow baking pan to sit in oven for an additional 10 minutes.
Remove foil and carefully plate each ramekin by turning the rice out onto a plate or you could just serve the ramekin on a plate. Top with a little sweet chili sauce and some cilantro leaves.