Chinese Taro Cake (Woo Tau Goh)
A traditional dish often served for Lunar New Year, this Chinese taro cake is loaded with flavor thanks to umami-rich tasty toppings! It's a tradition definitely worth keeping up!
- Prep time
- 30 min
- Cook time
- 1 hr
- Yield
- 8 servings
- Difficulty
- MEDIUM
Ingredients
Quantities are shown as originally provided.
- 180 g rice flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp sugar
- 1/4 tsp white pepper
- 3/4 lb. (340g) taro root cut into small cubes ((weight after peel has been removed))
- 2 cups hot water ((for soaking dried shrimp and scallops))
- 3 tbs (25g) dried shrimp
- 3 tbs (30g) dried scallops
- 2 Chinese sausages (lop cheng)
- Chopped green onions
- Sesame seeds
- 1/2 tsp fish sauce ((optional for stirring into rice solution))
Instructions
- 1
In mixing bowl, combine rice flour, salt, white pepper and sugar. Whisk together and set aside.
- 2
Add dried shrimp and scallops to 2 cups hot water and let soak until full hydrated, at least 1 hour.
- 3
Drain rehydrated shrimp and scallops, reserving soaking liquid.
- 4
Run Chinese sausages under hot water to help soften and to make easier to cut. Chop sausages into small diced pieces.
- 5
Roughly chop shrimp; break scallops into shreds using fingers. Combine with chopped Chinese sausage; set aside.
- 6
Combine cubed taro root and water in a pot over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Simmer for 2 minutes. Drain.
- 7
Measure out 1 1/2 cups of reserved soaking liquid and warm up slightly in the microwave, about 30 seconds. (See Recipe Notes below). Add to bowl containing rice flour mixture and mix well with a whisk.
- 8
Spread cooked taro root in greased dish. Whisk rice flour mixture again and pour over taro root.
- 9
Sprinkle shrimp, scallop and Chinese sausage mixture over the taro and rice flour liquid. Gently push toppings into liquid so they are at least partially submerged.
- 10
Steam for 30 minutes over medium heat.
- 11
Top with chopped green onions and sesame seeds.
- 12
Let cool completely before cutting. Eat at room temperature or microwave individual servings. Serve with chili sauce or soy sauce. if desired.