Best Clay Pot Rice(Bao Zai Fan) in New York

Chinese sausage

🥗Healthier: chicken breast

💰Cheaper: pork belly

Chicken breast reduces fat while maintaining protein.

shiitake mushrooms

🥗Healthier: button mushrooms

💰Cheaper: canned mushrooms

Button mushrooms are more accessible and affordable.

soy sauce

🥗Healthier: low-sodium soy sauce

💰Cheaper: tamari

Low-sodium options reduce salt intake.

oyster sauce

🥗Healthier: mushroom sauce

💰Cheaper: hoisin sauce

Mushroom sauce is plant-based and lower in cost.

Introduce the dish as a Chinese specialty called ballai fun, a clay pot rice dish.

Explain that the rice is cooked in clay pots with various meaty ingredients added on top.

Mention that the rice is cooked about 70 to 80% before adding the ingredients.

Describe the importance of using small, thin rice for this dish.

Show the arrival of the clay pot with three different types of ballai fun: house special, salted fish and pork, and short ribs with fermented black beans.

Highlight the fragrances coming from the clay pot, particularly from the salted fish and pork.

Discuss the texture and flavor of Chinese sausage, noting its sweet and fragrant qualities.

Demonstrate adding soy sauce to the dish and mixing it thoroughly, focusing on getting the crispy rice from the sides of the pot.

Taste the salted fish and pork ballai fun, emphasizing the moistness and flavor of the rice infused with the juices from the meat.

Describe the meat lovers clay pot, highlighting the different sausages and bacon included in it.

Taste the meat lovers clay pot, expressing enjoyment of the flavors and textures, especially the infusion of flavors into the rice.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary