“Organic Chinese Coconut Sticky Rice Balls — With Cocoa”

This sweet organic treat is sure to please anyone who loves Chinese sticky rice. With coconut, brown rice, and cocoa this recipe is full of the organic goodness of each. This recipe is easy, quick, and will please all those who love Chinese baked goods. These little balls are like chocolate truffles with a Chinese twist. And this recipe is completely gluten free and vegan.

I happen to love sticky rice and every time we go to NY or SF I always end up in a Chinese Bakery buying a few wonderful sticky balls. They are gelatinous and sticky and have a texture similar to some types of sticky Dim Sum. But it’s not for everyone, my wife likes the flavor but not the texture. I think perhaps in another life I was Chinese… I love Chinese food in general.

Ingredients:

2 - Cups of Organic Brown Rice - Double Cooked
1 - Cup of Shredded and Toasted Organic Coconut
1 - Cup of Organic Roasted Almonds - Broken into small pieces
1/2 - Teaspoon of Stevia Powder - or 1/2 cup of honey or agave nectar or some other sweetener.
2 - Tablespoons of Organic Sweet Rice Flour or sometimes called Gelatinous Rice Flour
1 - Teaspoon of Organic Vanilla Extract
1/2 - Cup of Organic Cocoa Powder

Cook the brown rice as normal but cook it for a much longer period of time—twice as long, the longer cooking time will make the rice sticky. Towards the end of the cooking time add the 2 tablespoons of sweet rice flour and vanilla and stir well until thick. Then shut off the heat and add the sweetener of choice, cracked almonds, organic shredded coconut, and keep stirring until very thick… then cool completely.
When cool make pin pong size balls or larger balls depending upon your preference. Now roll sweet rice balls in organic cocoa powder until completely covered… then cool them in the frig until until nice and firm.
Depending upon the size this recipe will make from 12 to 24 sticky rice balls.
The sticky rice balls commonly found in Chinese bakeries are usually filled with coconut, or mango, or sweet red bean paste, or other sweet goodies… I think I’ve tried them all, and love every one of them.
Health Benefits of Organic Brown Rice

Brown Rice compared to white rice has a lot of health benefits. Brown Rice is full of Thiamine, Niacin, Pyridoxine, Vitamin K, Calcium, Iron, Phosphorus, and Potassium. Brown Rice is rich in fiber, controls blood sugar and cholesterol, and works wonders for ulcers and diarrhea. Plus if a person is debilitated brown rice is very easy to digest and contains needed nutrients for the growth of bones, muscles, nails, hair, and teeth. Soaking Brown Rice in water for 30 minutes prior to cooking will make it easier to cook. And pressure cooking also preserves more nutrients and cuts the cooking time to about 20 minutes creating fluffy brown rice.

Health Benefits of Almonds

Almonds are full of protein, fiber, and also great B and E vitamins. Almonds are full of magnesium, potassium, iron, calcium and more minerals. Full of good fatty acids that reduce cholesterol and also full of flavonoids that prevent cancer. Also almonds help to lower blood pressure and they are good for our skin and relieve stress.

Health Benefits of Coconut

Coconut helps to boost up our immune system, restores thyroid function, helps to remove free radicals and prevent and restore DNA damage and slows the aging process. Coconut also helps our pancreas to produce more insulin and enhances athletic performance. Coconut also helps with weight loss because it contains lots of fiber, and coconut helps to protect us from kidney disease and urinary tract infections. Coconut is also antiviral thus helping to protect against colds and flues. And coconut is also antibacterial and anti-fungal thus helping to protect us from bacterial infections and fungal infections.

Health Benefits of Cocoa Powder

Cocoa powder is a very healthy food, it lowers cholesterol, it’s a good antidepressant food, lowers blood pressure, lowers the chances of coming down with blood clots, and it boosts up our memory and cognitive performance. Cocoa powder also contains lots of antioxidants to prevent cardiovascular disease, strokes, and cancer, and it also slows the aging process. And cocoa powder is right up there with green tea when it comes to polyphenols and antioxidants that keep away disease, and cocoa is listed as one of the top 5 antioxidant foods.

And these little nuggets of sweet goodness also help with those chocolate
cravings.

Enjoy!

Dr. Paul Haider - Master Herbalist