STICKY RICE STUFFING WITH CHINESE SAUSAGE AND SHIITAKES

Sticky Rice Stuffing with Chinese Sausage and Shiitakes image

Provided by Sue Li

Yield Makes 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

2 1/2 cups Thai long grain sticky rice, or regular short-grain sticky rice
1/3 cup pine nuts
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 large shallots, sliced into 1/4" rings
1/2 pound shiitakes mushrooms, stemmed and coarsely chopped
6 ounces Chinese sausage (about 4 links), sliced (about 1 1/2 cups)
1/4 cup Shaoxing Chinese wine or dry sherry
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 cup jarred peeled roasted chestnuts, roughly chopped
2 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth or water
Kosher salt
2 scallions, thinly sliced, for garnish
Special equipment:
12-inch cast iron skillet

Steps:

Rinse the rice in a colander, and then transfer to a medium bowl. Cover with 1 inch of water and let soak at room temperature overnight. Drain thoroughly.
Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add the pine nuts and toast, stirring, until golden, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate and set aside, reserving skillet.
Return skillet to medium heat and add oil. When oil is hot, add the shallots and mushrooms and cook, stirring, until the shallots are golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the sausage and cook until the sausages curl slightly, 1 minute more. Add the sherry, bring to a boil, and cook until syrupy, about 1 minute. Add the soy sauce, chestnuts, rice, and toasted pine nuts and toss until the rice kernels are evenly coated. Stir in the broth or water and season with salt. Cover and simmer over medium-low heat until the rice is cooked, 20 to 25 minutes.
Garnish rice "stuffing" with sliced scallions before serving.