Learn how to make warm Hong Kong-style clay pot rice with sweet Cantonese sausages (lop cheong) and Chinese cured pork (lop yuk). You will fall in love with the crispy bottom, savory sauce, and delicious toppings. Let’s get started.
The unique of serving rice, protein, and vegetables together
Clay pot rice is a traditional Cantonese dish that consists of rice cooked in a clay pot, which is first heated over a high flame and then simmered to perfection. If you visit a clay pot restaurant, they will offer lots of choices, chicken, fish, pork, ribs, and seafood. After choosing your ingredients, all the ingredients will be cooked in a clay pot and served with a savory sauce.
The method of cooking in a clay pot dates back centuries in Chinese cuisine. It is extremely popular in the Cantonese area.
Cantonese clay pot rice is often enhanced with a variety of toppings such as chicken, Chinese sausages, or preserved meats. These ingredients are added atop the rice during the cooking process, allowing their flavors to seep into the grains as the steam rises.
Dreaming Crispy Bottom- Guoba
The best part of clay pot rice is the crispy, golden crust that forms at the bottom, known as “guoba.” This prized layer adds a smoky, caramelized element to the dish that is highly sought after by connoisseurs of Cantonese food. Winter or cold days are the best time to enjoy the Clay pot rice.
Prepare your Clay Pot
The selection of a clay pot is critical for authentic clay pot rice. Ideal pots are made from unglazed earthenware and come in various sizes. We can find Clay Pots like this on Amazon.
Before its first use, you should soak the pot in water for 15-20 minutes to prevent cracking and to improve the rice’s texture.
Soaking: Reduces cooking time and ensures evenly cooked grains.
Cook’s Note
The process begins with soaking the rice for approximately 30 minutes to an hour. So the rice can absorb water and get a softer texture.
Soaking: Reduces cooking time and ensures evenly cooked grains.
Then oil is often brushed on the interior of the pot to prevent sticking and to contribute to a crisp rice crust, known as socarrat.
Oil Application: A thin layer prevents sticking and aids in creating a desirable texture.
Heat regulation is key: we should cook the rice slowly and evenly. So slow down the fire after the water boils and let the inner temperature cook the rice until fully cooked.
Ingredients
Crafting the perfect clay pot rice requires precision in selecting quality ingredients and following a harmonious recipe. The balance of rice texture and the savory aroma from the assortment of toppings make this dish distinctive.
Base Ingredients and Seasonings
The foundation of clay pot rice starts with the selection of the rice. Jasmine rice is frequently used for its fragrant aroma.
Then you will need lop cheong and Chinese cured pork belly for the most classic versions. Then I use yu Choy as the green. You can use broccoli, Chinese broccoli or bok choy.
In addition to the ingredients above, a lovely savory sauce needed to be prepared to give the rice a savory taste base.
- Soy Sauce: Both light and dark varieties add saltiness and color.
- Oyster Sauce: Gives a rich, oyster umami flavor to the rice.
- Sesame Oil: A few drops for a nutty aroma.
- Granulated Sugar: For basic seasoning.
- Water: Allow the sugar to dissolve and combine all the flavors.
- Chopped green onion: as decorations.
Steps by Steps
Step 1: Prepare the ingredients
Slice the air-cured pork belly and sweet sausage into thin slices. Set aside.
Step 2: soak the rice
Rinse the rice carefully and then soak it with clean water for around 30 minutes.
Step3: Make the sauce
Add all the ingredients for the sauce together. Simmer until the sugar dissolves completely.
Step 4: Set up the clay pot: brush the clay pot with oil
Take a small brush and coat the surface of the clay pot with vegetable cooking oil.
Strain the soaked rice and then add extra water to cover the grains ( recommend around 0.5cm higher ).
Start with middle to high fire and bring the content to a boiling. You can watch the small bubbles on the edges of the pot.
Slow down the fire to the lowest and let it simmer for around 10 minutes. Then the rice should be cooked well.
Step 5: place the proteins and ingredients
Lay the lop cheung and cured pork on top. If you use other proteins, the ingredients should be added at this step too.
Step 6: Add oil and make the crispy bottom
If you are cooking on a gas stove, rotating the pot (we have shown the process in the video) for evenly heating can help to create more crispy bottoms.
Also, pouring around 1 tablespoon of vegetable cooking oil along with the edges of the clay pot can help to avoid a burnt bottom.
Then move from heat and set aside for 5 minutes. we will prepare other ingredients during this setting time.
Step 7: Blanch the vegetables
During this time, bring a pot of water to a boil, add a pinch of salt and drops of oil, and cook vegetables for 1-2 minutes. Transfer out.
Step 8: Assemble the clay pot rice
Place the blanched vegetables and around 2 or 3 tablespoons of sauce. Enjoy after stirring everything together. Serve with Bok Choy and other pickles(optional but highly recommended).
Clay Pot Rice (Hong Kong Style)
Ingredients
- 1 cup long grain rice
- water to cover the rice (level around 0.5cm higher )
- 2 sweet sausage
- 1 cup cured pork belly , sliced
Sauce
- 2 tbsp. light soy sauce
- 1/2 tsp. dark soy sauce
- 1 tbsp. oyster sauce
- 1 tsp. sugar
- 1 tsp. sesame oil
- 1 tbsp. water
Serving with
- yu choy or bok choy or any other dark green vegetable you prefer
Instructions
Prepare the ingredients
- Slice the air-cured pork belly and sweet sausage into thin slices. Set aside.
Soak the rice
- Rinse the rice carefully and then soak it with clean water for around 30 minutes.
Make the sauce
- Add all the ingredients for the sauce together. Simmer until the sugar dissolves completely. Set aside.
Set up the clay pot and cook the rice
- Take a small brush and coat the surface of the clay pot with vegetable cooking oil.
- Strain the soaked rice and then add extra water to cover the grains ( recommend around 0.5cm higher ).
- Start with middle to high fire and bring the content to a boiling. You can watch the small bubbles on the edges of the pot.
- Slow down the fire to the lowest and let it simmer for around 10 minutes. Then the rice should be cooked well.
Place the proteins and ingredients
- Lay the lop cheung and cured pork on top. If you use other proteins, the ingredients should be added at this step too.
Add oil and make the crispy bottom
- If you are cooking on a gas stove, rotating the pot (we have shown the process in the video) for evenly heating can help to create more crispy bottoms.
- Also, pouring around 1 tablespoon of vegetable cooking oil along with the edges of the clay pot can help to avoid a burnt bottom. Then move from heat and set aside for 5 minutes. we will prepare other ingredients during this setting time.
Blanch the vegetables
- During this time, bring a pot of water to a boil, add a pinch of salt and drops of oil, and cook vegetables for 1-2 minutes. Transfer out.
Assemble the claypot rice
- Place the blanched vegetables and around 2 or 3 tablespoons of sauce. Enjoy after stirring everything together. Serve with Bok Choy and other pickles(optional but highly recommended).
Video
Nutrition
Cookware Alternatives
If you don’t have a clay pot, you can use a cast iron pot as a substitute.
Other proteins or vegetables you can add
Proteins such as marinated chicken, Chinese sausage, and cured pork belly introduce a meaty savor, while salted fish brings an intense umami kick. Vegetables like Chinese broccoli and scallions add freshness and a contrasting crunch. Common preparations include:
- Chicken: Typically marinated with soy sauce, oyster sauce, and Shaoxing wine.
- Shiitake Mushrooms: Soaked and sliced, infusing an earthy flavor.
- Marinated beef: sliced marinated beef can be used to replace cured pork for beef lovers.
is there any preparation needed for using the clay pot? Do I need to season it or anything?
its my first time using my clay pot and I just wanna make sure if there are stepsto take if im using it for the first time.
Thanks!
Hi Lisa,
We are suggesting to soak your clay pot firstly in water for 30 minutes and dry before using, which can help to prevent it from cracking later. No other extra step needed.
It depends on which clay pot you buy. General rule of thumb is to treat a clay pot like you would a cast iron pan.
What do you guys mean when you say add oil to rice. Is it just regular canola or vegetable oil? Or do you mean sesame oil?
Hi Steve,
Common vegetable oil can work. It works as a lubricating agent to prevent the rice from sticking to the bottom.
Virgin olive oil I’m guessing
I use peanut oil or regular (not brown/toasted) sesame oil when I make clay pot rice. I prefer the flavor. Avocado oil is nice as well. I don’t like the flavor of canola or soybean oil. Olive oil has it’s own strong flavors that I find can taste odd to me with the seasoned soy sauce blend in a recipe like this.
a wonderful attempt 👍
This is great! Do you have any suggestions on how to adapt the recipe for brown rice?
For brown rice, you need to add more water, possible 1 and 3/4 cups of water. And the other steps should be the same.
Hi Elaine,
Do you have recommendations on how to cook clay pot rice using a conventional rice cooker or electric pressure cooker (Instant Pot) instead of a traditional clay pot? Thanks!
Nancy,
You can make this rice with rice cooker or electric pressure cooker. But the two tools cannot create the crispy bottom and the separated grains. You can try to use a cast iron pot and follow this instructions before adding the side ingredients.
Virgin olive oil is not used in Asian cooking. It has a low smoking point and a grassy flavor that is not part of the traditional flavor profile. Classic fats used in Chinese cooking are peanut oil and lard.
I agree, it makes the meal so grassy. Denny is the goat. Keep going🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳
Would this work with an electric stove?
Sure. I use electric stove in my kitchen too.
How much oil do you drizzle along the edge?
Around 1 tablespoon.
What brand of Chinese sausage did you use in this picture? There’s so many kinds at the Asian markets been trying to find the right ones.
You can choose the thinner and red ones. They are from Cantonese cuisine. But theoretically, all types works.
Elaine,
I love this dish! I recently started counting calories and got a bit scared at the nutritional information below. Is that accurate or is that an accident? I find it hard to believe that this dish would be 4087 calories!!
Winni,
I am sorry that the recipe is transformed directly after changing the recipe section. So the nutritional information might be not accurate. I have already corrected. But this one is with high calories because of the sausage and cured pork belly.
Looks looks delicious. Any recommendations on where I could purchase a clay pot online?
You can get it from amazon.
I love this plate, but I have one complain, I got small pox from it. 1/10 never try again.