A CLOSER LOOK
How to recognize it
Seeds of Agriophyllum squarrosum, a dune plant known as shami or shapeng; not rice grains.
In the kitchen
Soak, rub or grind with water, filter away the husk, then cook the starch-rich liquid and cool it into jelly.
Also milled for cooked grain foods; plain seeds contain no animal ingredients. Use food-grade seeds rather than identifying wild plants from a picture.
Ask about this ingredient
这道菜里有沙米吗？
Does this dish contain Sand rice seeds?
A few dishes to explore
These examples use this ingredient in typical or optional preparations. Open the dish to see the distinction; a restaurant’s recipe can differ.
