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Fan Tuan/Ci Fan (Stuffed Sticky Rice Rolls)

written by Marvellina Updated: November 16, 2022
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Sticky rice roll stuffed with savory and umami filling is popular breakfast food in China and Taiwan. You can easily make this at home and it makes a satisfying meal.

Fan Tuan/Ci Fan (Stuffed Sticky Rice Rolls)

What is fan tuan or ci fan tuan?

It’s a sticky rice roll typically filled with you tiao (Chinese fried dough stick), meat floss, and preserved mustard greens. These are usually the basics of fan tuan. Some will add fried eggs or hard-boiled eggs. Fan tuan is popular street food in Taiwan and it’s called ci fan in Shanghai if I’m not mistaken. People love to have fan tuan for breakfast or pretty much any time of the day. They have an incredible texture play and amazing taste here. Soft and sticky rice, crispy fried dough stick, savory mustard greens, umami meat floss. Take that one big bite into the fan tuan and the rest is history!!!

Ingredients

Fan tuan only needs a few basic ingredients to build. Of course you can add as many or as few as your heart desires, but you want to make sure you have at least what I’ve listed down here

  1. Glutinous rice
    This is also known as sweet rice/sticky rice but it’s not the same as sushi rice, even though it’s a bit sticky but not as sticky as glutinous rice
  2. Meat floss
    I use pork floss. You can use chicken floss or vegan meat floss
  3. You tiao (fried dough stick)
    You can use store-bought, usually come in frozen or make your own you tiao
  4. Preserved mustard
    This can be easily found at any Asian grocery store
  5. Chili oil
    This is optional but it adds a nice kick to it

How to assemble fan tuan

  1. Lay a piece of thick kitchen towel on a work surface. Lay another piece of plastic wrap/cling wrap on top of the towel. Spread about 1/3 of the rice you cook on the plastic wrap. You can use the rice spatula or your wet fingers to do so. The size should be enough to cover the dough stick and the filling
  2. Then spread some preserved mustard greens, meat floss, chili oil, you tiao, fried eggs if you use
  3. Bring the two sides of the towel towards the center. So the rice will cover the filling
  4. Squeeze the other two end to close the filling too. Then just squeeze and twist the cling wrap to tighten the roll up nicely. Repeat with the rest of the rice and fillings.
  5. Leave them wrap in the plastic wrap and then cut into half and serve as soon as possible so the you tiao won’t loose its crispiness
Fan Tuan/Ci Fan (Stuffed Sticky Rice Rolls)

Did you make this fan tuan / ci fan recipe?

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Fan Tuan/Ci Fan (Stuffed Sticky Rice Rolls)
Fan Tuan/Ci Fan (Stuffed Sticky Rice Rolls)

Fan Tuan/Ci Fan (Stuffed Sticky Rice Rolls)

Prep Time 30 minutes mins
Cook Time 45 minutes mins
Total Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
Servings 3 large rolls
Please rate the recipe if you have tried it!
REVIEW & RATE PRINT

Ingredients

If steaming the rice:

  • 2 cups glutinous rice soak for at least 4 hours

If cooking sticky rice on a rice cooker with sticky rice function:

  • 2 cups glutinous rice
  • 1 ⅓ cups water

If using Instant Pot (pot-in-pot method):

  • 2 cups glutinous rice
  • 1 ⅓ cups water

Filling (the amount is just an estimate):

  • 1 large you tiao
  • 80 gr pork floss or more as needed

To cook preserved mustard:

  • 70 gr preserved mustard diced
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 tsp sesame oil

For fried eggs:

  • 3 large eggs

Seasoning: (optional)

  • Chili oil as needed

Instructions
 

  • Whatever cup you use to measure the rice is the same cup you use to measure the liquid. Measuring cup that comes with the rice cooker is slightly different from the regular measuring cup. So make sure you stick to the same cup!
  • Give the rice a rinse in running water. Drain off the water completely using a strainer.
  • If you plan to steam the rice, soak the rice with water for at least 4 hours or overnight. If you plan to use a rice cooker or Instant pot pressure cooker, no soaking is needed

If steaming on the stove:

  • Bring the water in the steamer to a boil over medium heat. Line your steam rack with a wet muslin cloth. Spread the presoaked rice over the cloth. Make a hole in the middle of the rice so that rice cooks more evenly. Steam over medium heat for 30-35 minutes. Check on the water level to make sure you are not running out of water during steaming
  • When it's done cooking, let it sit in the steamer for 10 minutes and then fluff the rice and then keep them warm while you are preparing other things

If cooking with rice cooker:

  • My rice cooker has a sweet rice function and it cooks the glutinous rice perfectly. Put the rice and the water in the inner pot. Press on the sweet rice button and it will take about 40-45 minutes to cook. When it's done cooking. Let it sit for 10 minutes and then fluff the rice with the rice spatula. Keep the rice warm in the rice cooker while you prepare other things
  • If your rice cooker doesn't have a sweet rice function, you can try using brown rice functions. Don't try to use regular rice function as the cook will not cook properly

If cooking with Instant Pot:

  • Fill up the inner pot with 1 cup of water. Put the rice and water in another round pan. I use a round 6-inch cake pan, preferably stainless steel or aluminum as they are good heat conductors
  • Cover the lid and press "pressure cooker" and make sure it's on a high pressure. Set the time to 25 minutes and then when it's done cooking let the pressure release naturally
  • Unlock the lid and then fluff the rice. If you find a few grains that seem a bit undercooked, don't worry, just fluff the rice and close the lid back. Those grains will be cooked by residual heat. Keep the rice warm in the pot while you are preparing other things

Get the filling ready:

    Prepare the you tiao:

    • I use store-bought you tiao. They are usually pretty large in size. Toast them in the oven or an air fryer at 350 F for 5 minutes or until they crisp up. Cut into 1/2 or 1/3 depending on how large is the you tiao

    Prepare over-easy fried eggs:

    • Preheat a non-stick skillet with 1 Tbsp of oil. If your pan is large enough, crack in 3 eggs, otherwise cook the amount of eggs your pan can fit. Let them cook over high heat for about 3 minutes so the sides and bottoms are crispy. You can use a spatula to separate the eggs if the edges stuck to each other . I like this over easy. Then carefully flip over and cook for another 10-20 seconds or so, depending on how well-done you want it to be and carefully slide your spatula in and remove from the pan

    Cook the preserved mustard:

    • Preheat a non-stick skillet with 1 tsp of oil. Add the diced preserved mustard and cook for about 2-3 minutes. Add the sugar and sesame oil and continue to cook for another 2 minutes or until the preserved mustard is dry and slightly charred a bit. Remove from the pan

    Assembling:

    • Lay a piece of thick kitchen towel on a work surface. Lay another piece of plastic wrap/cling wrap on top of the towel. Spread about 1/3 of the rice you cook on the plastic wrap. You can use the rice spatula or your wet fingers to do so. The size should be enough to cover the dough stick and the filling
    • Then spread some preserved mustard greens, meat floss, chili oil, you tiao, fried eggs if you use. Bring the two sides of the towel towards the center. So the rice will cover the filling. Squeeze the other two end to close the filling too. Then just squeeze and twist the cling wrap to tighten the roll up nicely
    • Repeat with the rest of the rice and fillings.

    Serving:

    • Leave them wrap in the plastic wrap and then cut into half and serve as soon as possible so the you tiao won't loose its crispiness

    RECOMMEDED TOOLS

    Instant Pot
    Rice Cooker
    Bamboo Steamer

    *Nutrition facts are just estimates and calculated using online tools*

    Nutrition Facts
    Fan Tuan/Ci Fan (Stuffed Sticky Rice Rolls)
    Serving Size
     
    1 large roll
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    665
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    14
    g
    22
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    5
    g
    31
    %
    Trans Fat
     
    0.02
    g
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    2
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    6
    g
    Cholesterol
     
    199
    mg
    66
    %
    Sodium
     
    746
    mg
    32
    %
    Potassium
     
    351
    mg
    10
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    107
    g
    36
    %
    Fiber
     
    4
    g
    17
    %
    Sugar
     
    4
    g
    4
    %
    Protein
     
    24
    g
    48
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    313
    IU
    6
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    0.5
    mg
    1
    %
    Calcium
     
    60
    mg
    6
    %
    Iron
     
    4
    mg
    22
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Did you make this recipe?Let me know how you like this recipe and consider rating it! Tag me @whattocooktoday I’d love to see your photos/videos on Instagram
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