Chinese Rice Cakes Recipes

CHINESE NEW YEAR SWEET RICE CAKE (NIAN GAO)

Steps:

• Prepare two 8-inch round baking pans by brushing the insides with vegetable oil.
• Add 2 cups of water and the ginger to a medium-sized pot, bring it a boil, then let it simmer for 10 minutes over low to medium heat with the lid covered. Turn off the heat, and stir in the brown sugar and allspice until the sugar is dissolved completely. Remove the ginger slices. Now add 1 1/2 cups of cold water to cool down the mixture so its warm, not hot.
• In a large mixing bowl, mix the two kinds of flours together and then slowly add in the sugar water mixture. Stir thoroughly until the batter is smooth (without any lumps). Now stir in the vanilla extract, molasses, orange zest, and 2 teaspoons of vegetable oil until thoroughly combined. The resulting batter should have a consistency similar to condensed milk. If the batter is too thick, add a bit more water a couple tablespoons at a time until the desired consistency is reached.
• Pour the batter evenly into two foil pans. Gently tap the pans against your countertop to get rid of air bubbles. Top each pan with three decorative dates in the center, if using. Put both pans in a double-decker bamboo steamer and steam for about 1 hour on high heat (the water should be boiling, but should NOT be bubbling high enough to touch the foil pans). You might need to add water into the steamer midway to avoid having the water dry up and burn your bamboo steamers.
• After 1 hour, poke a toothpick into the rice cake. It's done if the toothpick comes out clean--just like a regular cake! Regarding steaming techniques, for this recipe and in general, it doesn't matter what type of vessel you use. The core goal here is to use steam to cook the food, which means it's important that the steam doesn't escape.
• For example, if you use bamboo steamer, you will also need a pot that fits the bamboo steamer perfectly so there is no visible steam escaping. If you don't have a pot that fits the bamboo steamer, you will need to put the bamboo steamer inside a much larger pot with a lid and set the bamboo steamer on a rack above the water. Whatever you decide to use, with the correct set up, you should not see steam escaping!

CHINESE RICE CAKE-BAI TANG GAO

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, mix 150ml to 160ml water with rice flour. Combine well.
• In a small pot, melt sugar with the left water (350ml). Bring to boil over medium fire.
• Pour the hot sugar liquid directly to the rice mixture. Combine well and set aside to cool down until less than 40 degree C or room temperature.
• Mix yeast with 20ml and set aside for 5 minutes.
• Combine yeast water and rice mixture well, cover with plastic wrapper for proofing.
• Drop several drops of oil in the batter and combine well. Continue proofing until there is a thick layer of small bubbles on the surface.
• Prepare a plate (steel plate is highly recommended as they are usually quite thin) and brush some oil on surface (this can help the de-molding process).
• Bring the water to boil firstly and then pour the rice batter to hot steel plate around 80% full.
• Cover with lid and steam for 15 minutes over high fire. Wait for around 10 minutes after turning off the fire. Transfer the cake out, wait for minutes and move it from the plate. Set aside to cool down completely. Either cut into large wedges or small cubes. Serve cold with tea or as breakfast.

STIR-FRIED RICE CAKES (NIAN GAO)

Steps:

• Marinate the julienned pork with the water, light soy sauce, sesame oil, white pepper, vegetable oil, and cornstarch. Allow to sit for 20-30 minutes, while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
• Rinse the rice cakes and drain. If using fresh or frozen rice cakes, you do not have to soak or thaw them. Only soak (according to package instructions) if using dried rice cakes.
• Thoroughly wash the baby bok choy (or napa cabbage). Drain, shaking off excess water. If using baby bok choy, separate into individual leaves. If using napa cabbage, cut the large leaves into smaller bite-sized pieces. Also prepare the garlic and scallions.
• If using mushrooms, slice them thinly. If using dried shiitake mushrooms, save the soaking liquid.
• Place your wok over high heat until it begins to smoke lightly. Add the vegetable oil to coat the wok, and add the pork and garlic. Cook until the pork turns opaque. If using mushrooms, add them now and stir-fry for 1 minute.
• Stir in the scallions, bok choy/cabbage, and Shaoxing wine. Stir-fry for 30 seconds, and move everything to the center of the wok to create an even "bed" of vegetables and meat. Distribute the rice cakes on top (this prevents them from sticking to the wok).
• Add water (or mushroom soaking water for extra flavor). Depending on how hot your stove gets, you can add 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup. Cover, and cook for 2 minutes to steam the rice cakes and cook the vegetables.
• Remove the cover, and add the sesame oil, dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, oyster sauce, white pepper, and sugar. Stir-fry everything together for 1 minute over medium heat. Taste, and season with additional salt if necessary. Continue stir-frying until the rice cakes are coated in sauce, cooked through but still chewy. Plate and serve!

CHINESE STICKY RICE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.
• Mix rice flour, canola oil, milk, sugar, and baking powder in a large bowl. Stir in the beaten eggs. Pour the mixture into the baking pan. Drop small spoonfuls of the red bean paste into the flour mixture about 1 to 2 inches apart, making sure that the red bean paste is covered by the flour mixture. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 55 minutes. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.

CHINESE RICE CAKES - CHAO NIAN GAO

Steps:

• Mix all the sauce ingredients together, then set aside.
• Place the rice cakes in a medium bowl, and add water to cover. Let soak for at least 1 hour, up to overnight. They won't be soft to the touch yet, but this will help them soften up when you cook them.
• In a large skillet or wok, heat a thin layer of oil over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms, and cook for 10-15 minutes, or until browned and any liquid that the mushrooms have exuded has evaporated. Add the onion, garlic and cabbage; saute for 5-10 minutes, or until the onions are slightly translucent and the cabbage is wilted.
• Drain the rice cakes. Add the rice cakes, sauce and fish cakes. Saute until the rice cakes are chewy (they'll look less matte, but you can also taste one), the sauce coats everything, and the fish cakes are warmed through. Serve hot.

10-MINUTE RICE CAKES

Steps:

• Mix rice, egg, basil, milk, salt, and pepper together in a bowl.
• Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Pour rice mixture into the skillet in 2 equal portions. Cook until browned on the bottom, about 3 minutes. Flip and continue cooking until second side is browned, about 2 minutes more.

BAKED COCONUT STICKY RICE CAKE RECIPE

Steps:

• Method: Preheat oven to 180C/350F. Beat the eggs and mix with sugar very well. Add coconut milk and glutinous flour, and combine until very smooth. Use a 24cm x30 cm baking tray, or two smaller trays. Don't use any trays that are too deep, it's hard to cook through otherwise. Line a baking sheet at the bottom of the baking tray. Lightly brush or spray oil around the edges. Pour the mixture into the baking tray, bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour. Test it with a needle. If it comes out clean, it's done.

CHINESE RICE CAKES

Steps:

• If your rice has any large items (like whole shrimp) pull these out and chop into small pieces. Add back to rice.
• Put rice in a mixing bowl. Add egg, and mix to coat rice. If the rice is not well coated, add another egg.
• Stir in flour. The mixture should be fairly loose, but not runny.
• Heat enough oil to coat the bottom of a non-stick skillet over medium heat.
• Drop the rice mixture by tablespoons into hot oil. Gently flatten each spoonful with the back of a spoon, so that it is about 1/4 inch thick.
• Cook until the bottom is golden brown, then flip and cook the other side.
• Remove to a rack covered with paper towels to drain any excess oil.
• Serve immediately with your choice of dipping sauce, or cool completely before adding to your bento box.