The Khao Jee Festival is a traditional Lao celebration held during the third lunar month. Villagers work together to prepare grilled sticky rice and offer it to Buddhist monks. They also make merit, listen to Buddhist teachings, and pass this cultural tradition on to the next generation.
How to Make Salted Grilled Sticky Rice
Ingredients:
- Cooked sticky rice
- A little salt
- Eggs, for brushing the rice
- Sugarcane juice (optional, for a sweeter taste)
- Bamboo sticks for grilling
Instructions:
- Prepare the cooked sticky rice and shape it into portions of your preferred size.
- Sprinkle a little salt over the rice and shape it into flat or oval portions.
- Prepare the bamboo sticks and carefully place each portion of sticky rice onto a stick.
- Light the fire and wait until the flames die down, leaving hot charcoal.
- Hold the sticky rice over the charcoal and slowly turn the sticks so the rice cooks evenly.
- When the rice is almost cooked, brush beaten egg over its surface.
- Continue grilling and turning the sticks until the egg is fully cooked and the rice has a beautiful golden color.
- Once cooked, remove the sticky rice from the fire. It is ready to offer to Buddhist monks or enjoy as a snack.
Note: In some local areas, people put sugarcane juice inside the sticky rice to give it a sweeter taste.
