How to make rice dumplings with clay

The zongzi is one of the traditional Chinese delicacies, and its production process requires the use of high-quality glutinous rice and a variety of fillings to match. Although zongzi are usually made by steaming glutinous rice with fillings, if you want to imitate making zongzi with clay, it is also feasible.

Materials for making clay dumplings include clay, paints, molds and some auxiliary tools. These materials can be purchased in art stores or online. First of all, choose the suitable color of clay, generally speaking, glutinous rice dumplings are white, and other flavors of dumplings can be chosen accordingly.

Next, knead the clay into a ball to make it soft. You can divide the clay into two parts, one for the outer skin of the dumplings and the other for the filling. Roll the clay for the outer skin into a round shape and flatten it. Use a mold or your fingers to dig a small hole in the middle of the rounded clay.

The clay for the filling needs to be rolled into a long strip and then placed in the center of the clay circle. You can choose different fillings according to your preference, such as green bean paste, red bean paste, honey dates, and so on. After rolling the filling into a suitable size, wrap the clay of the outer skin around the filling and seal it with your fingers.

The next step is to decorate the clay dumplings. You can use auxiliary tools such as toothpicks to carve out some details on the clay, such as the grain of the dumpling leaves and the rope for tying the dumplings. If you want to add texture to the dumplings, you can roll a small piece of moist clay into a slender shape and wrap it around the center part of the clay dumplings a few times to mimic the rope effect of the dumplings.

Throughout the making process, pay attention to controlling the humidity of the clay to avoid over-drying or over-wetting. If the clay is too dry, add water in moderation; if the clay is too wet, add an appropriate amount of dry clay to the work surface to absorb the excess moisture.

The made clay dumplings can be placed in a ventilated place to dry until fully cured. After curing, the clay dumplings can be used as cute decorations or as gifts for your friends and family. Just note that these clay dumplings are not edible.

To summarize, making dumplings out of clay is a fun craft activity. By rubbing, molding and decorating, you can make clay dumplings come to life. It's a fun and educational process that provides a greater understanding and appreciation of the craft of making traditional gourmet rice dumplings.