Nian Gao: Chinese New Year’s Rice Cake
Nian Gao is enjoyed year round, but it’s traditionally popular during Chinese New Year. It is believed to bring good luck, because “nian gao” sounds like “year high”. So it symbolizes rising higher in the new year. And fish is popular because it sounds like surplus in Chinese (“yu”). So if you want to rise and shine with an abundance of wealth, then be sure to eat this New Year’s rice cake! ;)
8 persons
Easy
1 hour
China
Ingredients
Based on 8 persons
- 110g rice flour
- 500g glutinous rice flour
Sugar water:
- 400g slices of cane sugar
- 500ml water
Kitchen tools:
- Cake mold
- Steamer
- Grease the cake mold with oil. Sift both rice flours in a mixing bowl. Cook 500 ml of water in a pan and dissolve the cane sugar. Take the pan off the stove and let it cool off to room temperature.
- Add the sugar water in three parts to the flour. Mix this on medium speed until the batter is smooth.
- Pour the batter in the cake mold. Hold the mold 5 centimeters from your board and let the batter fall out gently a couple of times to remove air bubbles.
- Steam the cake for 45 minutes on high heat.