Sandwich Shop Goodies 8 – Bánh bao chỉ (loh mai chi)
Yet another sticky rice snack that I vaguely remember eating one or twice during the early childhood, and found again in a San Jose sandwich shop more than ten years later. I was excited when I saw these green balls covered in coconut bits.
We Vietnamese call them bánh bao chỉ to distinguish from the meat-filled steamed bun made from wheat flour known to us as bánh bao. Just as bánh bao comes from China, so does bánh bao chỉ. Just as bánh bao are baozi and mantou in Mandarin, mandu in Korean, manju in Japanese, manti in Turkish, and many more, bánh bao chỉ too has its share of names.
The most-result-yielding Google search belongs to loh mai chi, commonly shown as little sticky rice flour dumplings with sweet ground peanut filling. Other variations in Malaysian and Chinese food blogs are snowball, loh mi chi, chi fa bun, muah chee (yeah, these are really cute you’d want to kiss them too)*, noh mi chi, and ma zi. Once again, I feel the need to learn Mandarin. Some say “noh mi” means “sticky rice” in Cantonese, but what does “chi” mean? Others, including the Vietnamese sites, insist that “chỉ” in bánh bao chỉ comes from “mà chỉ”, which is “ma zi”, which is “sesame seed” in Mandarin, which means “mi chi” is “sesame” (recall mi lao – sesame fluff) and we’re left with “noh” being “sticky rice”. It is reasonable enough if we consider that there are four types of fillings for bánh bao chỉ: black sesame, coconut, mung bean, and peanut. But the taste I had from childhood was the salty and sweet ground peanut in a gummy, springy thin layer of white dough coated with flour. Sesame filling must be a new twist.
And so are the vibrant green color and the coconut bits. And the size. Cheap bánh bao chỉ used to be sold on wheels: an old Chinese man peddled around the neighborhood with a glass tank on the back of his worn bicycle, the tank half filled with soft white balls as big as tangerines. Now these balls are about an apricot each, fit snugly in a plastic box and sold for $2 at Kim’s Sandwiches. Not only do they lose the romantic authenticity of a street food, they also taste like soap. The green dough, instead of having pandan flavor, reeks of artificial chemicals. The mung bean paste is sickeningly sweet.
I’ve never been so disappointed with a snack food. Do NOT buy these green balls, no matter how good looking they are. Search online for loh mai chi recipes, or search the streets for old Chinese vendors.
(*) It’s hard to refrain from making the connection between muah chee and the Japanese mochi (daifuku).
The exact origin of mochi is unknown, though it is said to have come from China. The cakes of pounded glutinous rice appear to have become a New Year’s treat during Japan’s Heian period (794-1185). As early as the tenth century, various kinds of mochi were used as imperial offerings at religious ceremonies. A dictionary dating from before 1070 calls the rice cake “mochii.” Around the eighteenth century, people began to call it “mochi.” Various theories explain the name. One is that “mochi” came from the verb “motsu,” “to hold or to have,” signifying that mochi is food given by God. The word “mochizuki” means “full moon.” People of the west and southwest islands called it “muchimi,” meaning “stickiness.”
– from New World Encyclopedia
So I know everybody thinks the entire Far East gets its stuff from China (yeah… no.), but here’s a crazy idea: what if this sticky rice ball with sweet fillings actually originated from Japan, then the Chinese got hold of some, and later passed it down South?
Previously on Sandwich Shop Goodies: bắp hầm (Vietnamese whole kernel grits)
Next on Sandwich Shop Goodies: bánh bò bông (steamed sponge muffin)
Some genuinely nice and useful information on this web site, besides I believe the pattern has excellent features.
1I have recently started a website, the info you offer on this web site has helped me greatly. Thanks for all of your time & work.
2Yay google is my world beater aided me to find this great site! .
3Everything is very open and very clear explanation of issues. was truly information. Your website is very useful. Thanks for sharing.
4I’m not sure why but this site is loading incredibly slow for me. Is anyone else having this issue or is it a issue on my end? I’ll check back later and see if the problem still exists.
5Appreciate it for all your efforts that you have put in this. very interesting info .
6Would love to incessantly get updated outstanding website! .
7fantastic points altogether, you simply gained a new reader. What would you suggest about your post that you made a few days ago? Any positive?
8It is in point of fact a great and helpful piece of info. I am happy that you just shared this helpful info with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
9I conceive you have mentioned some very interesting details, thanks for the post.
10I gotta bookmark this website it seems invaluable handy
11obviously like your website but you need to check the spelling on several of your posts. Several of them are rife with spelling problems and I find it very bothersome to tell the truth nevertheless I’ll certainly come back again.
12Everything is very open and very clear explanation of issues. was truly information. Your website is very useful. Thanks for sharing.
13Really enjoyed this post, is there any way I can get an update sent in an email every time you make a fresh post?
14You are my aspiration, I have few web logs and very sporadically run out from to brand.
15Everyone loves what you guys are usually up too. This sort of clever work and reporting! Keep up the good works guys I’ve added you guys to my personal blogroll.
16Howdy I am so thrilled I found your weblog, I really found you by accident, while I was browsing on Google for something else, Regardless I am here now and would just like to say many thanks for a tremendous post and a all round enjoyable blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to read it all at the moment but I have book-marked it and also added your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read much more, Please do keep up the excellent work.
17I truly appreciate this post. I have been looking all over for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You have made my day! Thanks again!
18It’s actually a cool and helpful piece of info. I’m satisfied that you shared this useful info with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.
19It’s hard to find knowledgeable people on this topic, but you sound like you know what you’re talking about! Thanks
20As a Newbie, I am constantly exploring online for articles that can help me. Thank you
21I think other web-site proprietors should take this website as an model, very clean and fantastic user friendly style and design, let alone the content. You’re an expert in this topic!
22You could definitely see your skills within the paintings you write. The sector hopes for more passionate writers like you who are not afraid to say how they believe. All the time go after your heart. “There are only two industries that refer to their customers as users.” by Edward Tufte.
23This is a topic close to my heart cheers, where are your contact details though?
24Great, I should certainly pronounce, impressed with your website. I had no trouble navigating through all tabs as well as related information ended up being truly simple to do to access. I recently found what I hoped for before you know it at all. Quite unusual. Is likely to appreciate it for those who add forums or something, web site theme . a tones way for your client to communicate. Excellent task.
25obviously like your web-site however you need to take a look at the spelling on quite a few of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling issues and I find it very troublesome to tell the reality then again I will definitely come again again.
26I’m still learning from you, as I’m trying to achieve my goals. I definitely love reading all that is posted on your blog.Keep the tips coming. I loved it!
27My brother suggested I might like this web site. He used to be totally right. This submit actually made my day. You cann’t believe simply how a lot time I had spent for this info! Thanks!
28Thanks for all your efforts that you have put in this. very interesting info .
29Interesting blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere? A theme like yours with a few simple tweeks would really make my blog stand out. Please let me know where you got your design. Thanks
30It’s hard to find knowledgeable people on this topic, but you sound like you know what you’re talking about! Thanks
31Nice weblog right here! Additionally your site rather a lot up fast! What host are you the usage of? Can I get your associate hyperlink for your host? I wish my site loaded up as quickly as yours lol
32You have remarked very interesting details! ps decent website.
33I really happy to find this web site on bing, just what I was searching for : D as well saved to fav.
34After study just a few of the weblog posts on your website now, and I actually like your method of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark web site listing and will be checking again soon. Pls try my web site as nicely and let me know what you think.
35Hey there, You have done a great job. I’ll definitely digg it and for my part suggest to my friends. I am confident they will be benefited from this web site.
36I see something really special in this internet site.
37I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my own blog and was wondering what all is needed to get set up? I’m assuming having a blog like yours would cost a pretty penny? I’m not very web smart so I’m not 100 positive. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. Appreciate it
38magnificent points altogether, you just won a new reader. What might you recommend about your put up that you made some days in the past? Any certain?
39Thank you a lot for sharing this with all people you actually understand what you are talking approximately! Bookmarked. Kindly additionally visit my site =). We may have a link alternate arrangement among us!
40Very interesting points you have mentioned, appreciate it for posting. “The unspoken word never does harm.” by Kossuth.
41I love the efforts you have put in this, appreciate it for all the great posts.
42It’s exhausting to seek out educated individuals on this topic, but you sound like you realize what you’re speaking about! Thanks
43My brother suggested I might like this blog. He was totally right. This post truly made my day. You can not imagine just how much time I had spent for this info! Thanks!
44Hey There. I discovered your weblog using msn. This is a very smartly written article. I’ll be sure to bookmark it and return to learn more of your helpful information. Thanks for the post. I will definitely comeback.
45It is actually a nice and helpful piece of info. I am satisfied that you just shared this useful info with us. Please stay us informed like this. Thank you for sharing.
46I like what you guys are up also. Such clever work and reporting! Keep up the excellent works guys I have incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it’ll improve the value of my website :).
47This website is my intake, rattling wonderful style and perfect content.
48When I originally commented I clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get four emails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove me from that service? Thanks!
49Hello! I just would like to give a huge thumbs up for the great info you have here on this post. I will be coming back to your blog for more soon.
50