I had some lo mai gai (glutinous rice with chicken and egg yolk wrapped in lotus leaves and steamed). A few days ago I had some tamales. Since it's a slow day I'm wondering about some other leaf wrapped foods and what are some of Clutchfans' favorites. The other leaf wrapped foods I can think of are zongzi which are glutinous with meat, egg, and peanuts wrapped in bamboo leaves Otah which are a Malay dish of spicy ground fish in bamboo or banana leaf and grilled. Dolmades Greek and Turkish dish with rice and meat in grape leaves. Cabbage Rolls I recall there are some Indian and African foods that also are wrapped in leaves but am not familiar with them.
Banana leaves are often used in Central America and Southern Mexico instead of Corn Shucks. Grape leaves are used in preparation of food in parts of Southern Europe, Middle East and adjoining areas.
If you like Southeast Asian food that leans toward lemongrass and fish sauce, try out Nasi Bungkus at an Indonesian/Malaysian restaurant. Almost feels like an appetizer disguised as a meal. They might present it nice on a platter, but you're supposed to mix it up with the different flavors. There's a wiki for Asian varieties of Zongzi. I have a bias for savory Taiwanese variety with meat, mushroom and peanuts.
I've had the Oaxacan tamales which are made with banana leaves instead of corn leaves. There texture is softer and smoother than the corn leaf ones.
What kind of leaves are those? Would love to try it if I could ever find a place that did barbacoa that way.
Maguey. No restaurants do it that way. Find some dedicated Mexican friends for a weekend bbq, cause its a long slow process.
Maguey is Agave, btw. There's one place in Texas that is grandfathered in and allowed to do traditional "in the ground" barbacoa: Vera's in Brownsville. Every Texan should go there at least once.
Am tempted to try it myself but it looks like need to dig a pit first. Wonder if could try putting some leaves on the grill then get some cheek meat on top of the leaves. On a related note I've not tried to make this myself but have had it. Skate grilled in banana leaf.
Yes, we posted at the same time. Im pretty versed in the world of Tequila and Mezcal. Its now on the list.
You could just use two disposable pans wrap meats in leaves in one and cover with the other, put in grill. Not the same, but same.
Not a fan. Almost like an earthy vodka with no god redeeming qualities like a mezcal. Its Mexicos equivalent of Americas moonshine with the banning and all.
