| Alivongvong | |
| Alternate Name: | Alifengfeng |
| Region: | Taiwan |
| National Cuisine: | Taiwan |
| Main Ingredient: | sticky rice, meat |
Alivongvong, is a traditional delicacy of the Amis people, one of Taiwanese indigenous peoples. This dish features a sticky rice dumpling filled with meat, carefully enclosed in a hand-crafted leaf basket. Typically, a combination of white and black sticky rice is used for the dumpling, and common fillings include pork, wild boar meat, fish, and mushrooms.[1] Alivongvong can be found at night markets in Taiwan and eateries that offer aboriginal culinary specialties, providing a taste of traditional Amis cuisine to a wider audience.[2]
The preparation of alivongvong involves using pandan leaves, chosen for their tenderness, which are stripped of thorns and edges. These leaves are then woven into small, free-standing baskets. The sticky rice, both white and black, is thoroughly washed and soaked overnight. The soaked rice is placed into the leaf baskets, filling them about two-thirds full.[3] The baskets are then steamed for about an hour, during which the pandan leaves impart their fragrance and flavour to the rice dumpling.[4]
Alivongvong is often called the Amis lunchbox because of its convenient transportability, making it ideal for meals on the go. In the past, it was a common practice for Amis women to prepare these meals for their husbands who went hunting, highlighting the role of this dish in traditional Amis culture.[5]