Lo mai gai[a] (Chinese: 糯米雞; Jyutping: no6 mai5 gai1; Cantonese Yale: noh mái gāi), literally "glutinous rice chicken", is a classic dim sum dish served during yum cha.[1] The portion size of lo mai gai is generally quite large, so there is a smaller variant created known as jan ju gai (Chinese: 珍珠雞; Jyutping: zan1 zyu1 gai1; Cantonese Yale: jān jyū gāi; lit. 'pearl chicken').
Description
Lo mai gai is mostly a southern Chinese food. It contains glutinous rice filled with chicken, Chinese mushrooms, Chinese sausage, scallions, and sometimes dried shrimp or salted egg.[1][2] The ball of rice is then wrapped in a dried lotus leaf and steamed.[1] In North America, banana or grape leaves may be used instead.
Gallery
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The takeaway style of lo mai gai (usually served in a small bowl) -
Machang (zongzi or ma-chang 肉粽, a variant of lo mai gai shaped in a triangular pattern
See also
Notes
- ^ While proper Cantonese pronunciation specifies that "lo" should have an initial n- sound, free variation of n- and l- in many Cantonese speakers results in l- being the more commonly seen spelling for this word.