Jeweled Glutinous Rice Dome

1. Wash the Glutinous Rice

Start by washing the glutinous rice in a large bowl. Swirl it around with your hands and drain the water. Repeat this process several times until the water runs clear. This step is crucial as it removes excess starch, ensuring the rice is not too sticky.

2. Steam the Rice

Next, steam the washed rice. Place it in a 9-inch cake pan and add 2.5 cups of water. Set the pan in a steamer and steam the rice for 30 to 40 minutes. You'll know it's ready when the grains appear glazed and translucent.

3. Dice the Dried Fruits

While the rice is steaming, dice the dried apricots, pears, pineapple, mangoes, peaches, and dates, then mix them with the raisins in a large bowl. This colorful mix of fruits will add a delightful sweetness and texture to your dish.

4. Combine Rice and Fruit

Once the rice is done steaming, combine it with the diced fruit mixture. Stir well to ensure an even distribution of fruit throughout the rice.

5. Prepare the Bowl

Prepare a 1.5-quart steamproof bowl by coating it and your hands with 1.5 teaspoons of peanut oil. This will help prevent the rice from sticking to the bowl and to your hands.

6. Pack the Rice Mixture

Using your oiled hands, pack half of the rice and fruit mixture into the prepared bowl. Make sure to press it down firmly to create a hollow in the center. This hollow will hold the red bean paste.

7. Add Red Bean Paste

Place the red bean paste into the hollow you've made in the rice, then cover it with the remaining rice and fruit mixture. Press everything down again to ensure it's well-packed.

8. Steam the Dome

Set the bowl back into the steamer and steam it for another 45 minutes. This will meld all the flavors together and give the dish its distinctive dome shape.

9. Cool and Invert

After steaming, let the bowl cool for about 5 minutes. Use a blunt knife to gently loosen the edges, then invert the bowl onto a flat plate to release the rice dome.

10. Make Optional Syrup

If you choose to make the optional syrup, bring 0.75 cups of water to a boil in a wok. Dissolve 0.5 cups of sugar in the boiling water, then add the tapioca starch mixed with 1 tablespoon water. Let the syrup boil until bubbles form on the surface. Pour this syrup over the rice dome just before serving for an extra touch of sweetness.