Chinese New Year Rice Cake Nian Gao 年糕
Harmony is the motivator for all things Chinese. Thus the perfect cake for the Chinese New Year is the perfectly round Nian Gao, or 年糕, a celebration in itself of perfect harmony and balance, a delicious sweet treat that is made and served throughout the Chinese New Year, both to family and to visitors that drop by on their New Year's visits.
- Prep time
- 10 min
- Cook time
- 2 hr
- Yield
- 8 servings
- Difficulty
- HARD
Ingredients
Quantities are shown as originally provided.
- 1 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- 3 3/4 cups glutinous rice flour, 500g
- 1 1/4 cup water
- 2 tbsp peanut oil
- 8 dried red jujube dates 紅棗
- 1 tbsp black sesame seeds
- 1 tbsp shelled chinese watermelon seeds
Instructions
- 1
Dissolve sugar in 1/4 cup water in small pot over low heat. Stir to encourage to dissolve. After sugar is dissolved stop stirring but watching the pot carefully. The sugar will become darker and more aromatic. When the sugar just turns a dark golden color turn off the heat. Let sugar cool a minute and then slowly pour in 1 cup water, being careful as the syrup will boil up. Stir and then let cool completely.
- 2
Mix flour, caramelized sugar, 1 1/4 cup water and oil in mixing bowl until absolutely no more lumps.
- 3
Grease your steaming pans generously with oil. Pour the mix in, tapping the mold lightly on work surface to release any air bubbles. Do not fill molds all the way to the top, the cake should be 1.5 to 2.5 inch tall and leave 1/2 inch clear space to top of pan.
- 4
Steam over medium high heat for 2 hours.
- 5
Remove immediately from heat and decorate the cake tops with sesame seeds and watermelon seeds by pressing seeds down firmly but gently.