🍽️ Boji Chui

Steamed rice layers cut and sauced.

Boji Chui is a traditional rice snack of Maoming and western Guangdong, named after the bamboo winnowing tray in which it is steamed. Rice is ground into batter and ladled one layer at a time onto the tray; each layer is set before the next is poured, building up a stack. Cooled, it is cut into diamond squares, dressed with soy sauce, garlic oil and sesame, optionally with chili or garlic. Each piece is smooth, springy and distinctly layered, with a clean rice flavor and savory seasoning. It works as an afternoon bite or a light meal, cold or warm. Street stalls in Maoming steam it to order; layer by layer, it is the plainest childhood street memory of western Guangdong.