Lo mai gai

Lo mai gai is a yummy Chinese dish that is also known as glutinous rice stuffed in lotus leaves. It's basically like a present that you can unwrap and eat!

The first important thing to understand is what glutinous rice is. It's a type of rice that's stickier than other kinds of rice. It's a bit like when you try to pull apart a piece of pizza and the cheese strings out - that's what glutinous rice is like.

The second important thing to understand is what lotus leaves are. They're big, green leaves that come from a plant called lotus. They're really big and strong, so they can be used like wrapping paper to keep the glutinous rice safe and yummy.

Now, to make lo mai gai, you start by taking some glutinous rice and mixing it with other tasty things like chicken, mushrooms, and sausage. This mixture goes into a lotus leaf, which is then folded up like a little package. You can think of it like when you wrap up a birthday present - the rice is the gift and the lotus leaf is the wrapping paper.

Next, the little packages are steamed, which means they're cooked by hot steam instead of being heated over a flame or in an oven. This makes the glutinous rice all soft and sticky and delicious, and it also helps the lotus leaf keep everything inside nice and moist.

When the lo mai gai is done cooking, you can take it out of the steamer and carefully unwrap it like a present. Inside, you'll find a small, delicious meal that's perfect for snacking on or for a quick lunch.