Lo mai gai[a] (Chinese: 糯米雞; Jyutping: no6 mai5 gai1; Cantonese Yale: noh mái gāi), literally "glutinous rice chicken", is a classic dim sum dish served during yum cha.[1] The portion size of lo mai gai is generally quite large, so there is a smaller variant created known as jan ju gai (Chinese: 珍珠雞; Jyutping: zan1 zyu1 gai1; Cantonese Yale: jān jyū gāi; lit. 'pearl chicken').
Alternative names | Nuomiji |
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Course | Dim sum |
Place of origin | Guangdong, China |
Region or state | Cantonese-speaking areas |
Main ingredients | Glutinous rice filled with chicken, Chinese mushrooms, Chinese sausage, scallions and dried shrimp |
Variations | Zongzi, Lotus leaf wrap |
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Lo mai gai | |||||||||||||
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Traditional Chinese | 糯米雞 | ||||||||||||
Simplified Chinese | 糯米鸡 | ||||||||||||
Jyutping | no6 mai5 gai1 | ||||||||||||
Hanyu Pinyin | nuòmǐjī | ||||||||||||
Literal meaning | glutinous rice with chicken | ||||||||||||
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Jan jyu gai | |||||||||||||
Traditional Chinese | 珍珠雞 | ||||||||||||
Simplified Chinese | 珍珠鸡 | ||||||||||||
Jyutping | zan1 zyu1 gai1 | ||||||||||||
Hanyu Pinyin | zhēnzhūjī | ||||||||||||
Literal meaning | pearl chicken | ||||||||||||
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Lo mai gai is mostly a southern Chinese food. It contains glutinous rice filled with chicken, Chinese mushrooms, Chinese sausage, scallions, and sometimes dried shrimp or salted egg.[1][2] The ball of rice is then wrapped in a dried lotus leaf and steamed.[1] In North America, banana or grape leaves may be used instead.