Trending Food: Rice dumpling season gets inspired by Asian flavours, local dishes
SINGAPORE – With two weeks to go until the Dragon Boat Festival on May 31, it is time to cast aside the low-carb diet and indulge in the seasonal treat of rice dumplings.
In 2025 , trending Asian ingredients spice up the bamboo leaf-wrapped rice parcels – think kimchi, Sichuan peppercorns and sambal pork floss.
Other newfangled creations pay homage to local dishes such as chicken satay, chilli crab and chicken rice.
For those who like dessert-style dumplings, tuck into pyramids of sweetened purple rice dumplings, as well as kee chang (alkaline rice dumplings cooked in lye water) paired with kaya.
Here is where to get the best of 2025's wild and wonderful offerings.
Heritage of Asia rice dumpling gift set
What: Enjoy a medley of Asian flavours in Shang Palace's special bazhang gift set ($72.90 fo r six 130g dumpling s) , inspired by various Shangri-La properties.
The new Thai green curry chicken rice dumpling is one for the adventurous, while the Hainanese chicken rice dumpling is a nod to the familiarity of home.
Other savoury parcels include the luxurious Hometown Fujian-style rice dumpling with abalone, roasted pork, sea cucumber and dried shrimp, and sambal pork floss rice dumpling with salted egg yolk.
On the sweet side, the set features an alkaline rice dumpling with rose petal and lychee, and sweetened purple rice dumpling with a lava-like custard centre.
Where: Dragon Boat Festival booth, Tower Wing Lobby, Shangri-La Si ngapore, 22 Orange Grove Road
When: Till May 31
Info: Call 6213-4511 or order two days in advance by May 29 at bit.ly/DBF-2025 for delivery
Kimchi rice dumpling
Man Fu Yuan's kimchi rice dumpling with Kurobuta cured meat and mushroom.
PHOTO: INTERCONTINENTAL SINGAPORE
What: The star dumpling in 2025 at Cantonese restaurant Man Fu Yuan gets a South Korean twist.
The kimchi rice dumpling ($23.80 nett) includes aged kimchi, Kurobuta cured meat and mushrooms.
It is also part of two sets of five dumplings – perfect for gifting – priced at $129.80 nett (including Man Fu Yuan's exclusive tea blend) or $189.80 nett (including a 375ml bottle of Taittinger Brut Champagne).
Where: Man Fu Yuan, Level 2 InterContinental Singapore, 80 Middle Road
When: Till May 31
Info: Call 6825-1008 or order by May 28 at str.sg/3yZDw
Chicken satay rice dumpling
The Fullerton Hotel Singapore's chicken satay rice dumpling.
PHOTO: THE FULLERTON HOTEL SINGAPORE
What: In honour of SG60, Jade's Chinese executive chef Leong Chee Yeng draws inspiration from good old chicken satay for his new offering.
Consider the chicken satay rice dumpling ($22 nett) a reimagined wrap of satay with ketupat. It includes chicken thigh, king oyster mushroom and peanuts coated in a housemade satay sauce , and encased in glutinous rice.
The dumpling is part of the six-piece Jade Harmony Gift Basket ($158 nett), which showcases the restaurant's full rice dumpling selectio n in a reusable woven basket. The set includes a jar of premium XO chilli sauce, to add a touch of heat.
Where: The Fullerton Cake Boutique, Lobby, The Fullerton Hotel Singapore, 1 Fullerton Square
When: Till May 31
Info: Order three days in advance by May 28 at str.sg/aSYz
Pork trotter and peanut with Sichuan green peppercorn rice dumpling
Wan Hao Chinese Restaurant's Sichuan green peppercorn with pork trotter and peanut.
PHOTO: SINGAPORE MARRIOTT TANG PLAZA HOTEL
What: This is for all mala lovers.
Wan Hao Chinese Restaurant's pork trotter and peanut with Sichuan green peppercorn rice dumpling ($25 nett) makes its bold debut in 2025 .
The pork trotter is braised with Chinese herbs for about 90 minutes, then marinated overnight in a green peppercorn sauce that gives a good numbing kick.
Peanuts and black fungus are added for extra texture.
Where: Wan Hao Chinese Restaurant, Level 3 Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel, 320 Orchard Road
When: Till May 31
Info: Call 6831-4605 or order three days in advance at bit.ly/whricedumplings
Kung pao chicken and morel mushroom rice dumpling
Li Bai Cantonese Restaurant's new kung pao chicken and morel mushroom rice dumpling.
PHOTO: SHERATON TOWERS SINGAPORE
What: Li Bai Cantonese Restaurant's new creations, weighing 500g each, can doub le as hefty meals on their own.
Taking the spice route is its kung pao chicken and morel mushroom rice dumpling ($38), which packs in chicken, morel mushroom, conpoy, dried shrimp, cashew nuts, cous cous, Sichuan peppercorn and dried chilli.
The other option is the oblong Teochew beef rice dumpling ($48) stuffed with tender beef short ribs, salted egg, Chinese mushroom, braised peanut, barley and preserved winter melon.
Li Bai Cantonese Restaurant's Teochew beef rice dumpling.
PHOTO: SHERATON TOWERS SINGAPORE
Where: Li Bai Cantonese Restaurant, Sheraton Towers Singapore, 39 Scotts Road
When: Till May 31
Info: Order at shopatsheratonfestive.com
Singapore-style chilli crab rice dumpling
Madame Fan's range of dumplings includes its Singapore-style chilli crab rice version (front).
PHOTO: MADAME FAN
What: Singapore's chilli crab g ets a dumpling do-over at Cantonese restaurant Madame Fan.
Executive Chinese chef Pak Chee Yit's Singapore-style chilli crab rice dumpling ($22) features crab meat enriched in a housemade sweet and tangy sauce.
The other standout is the black char siew, salted egg yolk and chestnut rice dumpling ($28), chock-full of chunks of unctuous blackened roast pork.
Where: Madame Fan, Level 2 The NCO Club, 32 Beach Road
When: Till May 31
Info: Call 6818-1921 or go to madamefan.sg/specials
Mini sweet red bean purple rice mung bean dumpling
Crystal Jade Group's mini sweet red bean purple rice mung bean dumpling.
PHOTO: CRYSTAL JADE GROUP
What: This is for sweet lovers who prefer their dumplings as dessert.
Chinese restaurant group Crystal Jade's mini dumplings ($7.80 for three pieces) combine purple rice with glutinous rice, as well as mung beans and sweet red beans.
Where: Selected Crystal Jade restaurants, go to crystaljade.com for the full list
When: Till June 1
Info: Order three days in advance by May 28 at estore.crystaljade.com
Lemongrass kee chang rice dumpling with Raffles signature kaya
Yi by Jereme Leung's lemongrass kee chang rice dumpling with Raffles signature kaya.
PHOTO: RAFFLES HOTEL SINGAPORE
What: Chinese restaurant Yi by Jereme Leung reprises its kee chang rice dumpling with a new spin – aromatic and citrusy lemongrass.
Priced at $28+ for five pieces, the dumplings come with a jar of Raffles signature kaya (200g) for a sweet and savoury pairing.
Where: Yi by Jereme Leung, 03-02 Raffles Arcade, 328 North Bridge Road
When: Till May 31
Info: Call 6412-1816 or order two days in advance at rafflesgrabandgo.com
Eunice Quek is STFood online editor at The Straits Times. She covers all things trending in the food and beverage scene.
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