This is my first time making nin gou (年糕), a staple for Chinese New Year. I have seen it in Asian supermarkets like 99 Ranch but they appear really dense, as if you could chuck it like a clay discus and hurt someone pretty bad. The only pain my cake causes is stomach pain from eating too much. Glutinous rice is very filling. Combine that with coconut milk and sugar, and you have yourself a treat that should be eaten in moderation if you can help it.
But dat sweet sweet good luck and prosperity tho’…
Baked Chinese New Year Sticky Rice Cake (年糕)
2015-02-19 19:33:31
Nin gou is a filling treat that can be prepared by steaming or by baking. The latter method takes far less time but results in a lighter colored cake. Pan fry slices for a nice crispy outside and a warm springy inside.
Prep Time
45 min
Cook Time
45 min
Total Time
1 hr 30 min
Ingredients
- 3 c glutinous rice flour
- 1 c thick coconut milk (can be made with half can of coconut milk + 1/2 packet coconut powder)
- 2 c water
- 2 c caster sugar* (see notes)
- 100g coconut sugar or palm sugar
- 50g salted butter (about 1/2 stick)
- 4 eggs
- pinch of salt
- banana leaf (large enough to fit baking dish)
- cooking oil
Equipment
- 8x8 baking dish
- wok or frying pan
- sauce pan
- large mixing bowl
- metal whisk
- flour sifter (or fine mesh strainer)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C)
- Wipe the banana leaf with damp cloth to remove any white residue.
- Warm the banana leaf slightly in the warming oven or inside a wok just long enough to make the leaf pliable.
- Line the baking dish with the banana leaf and set aside.
- In the sauce pan, combine the coconut/palm sugar, butter, thick coconut milk, salt and water. On low to medium heat, stir occasionally until all sugars have dissolved.
- Let the sauce pan and liquid cool until room temperature, then transfer the liquid to a big mixing bowl.
- Add the eggs and mix well.
- Sift in the glutinous rice flour, stir batter until well combine.
- Pour the cake batter into the prepared baking dish. Bake about 45 minutes or when the cake sets and is golden brown.
- Cool cake completely (at least one hour) before removing banana leaf and cutting cake to a desired size.
- To pan fry - lightly coat wok or frying pan with oil. Saute slices of cake over medium heat until outside is slightly crispy.
Notes
- Caster sugar is a superfine sugar. It is not the same as powdered sugar, however. C&H brand Baker's sugar will work. If you have a spice grinder, you can pulse granulated sugar a few times to make a superfine sugar (this is what I did).
Adapted from Guai Shu Shu
Adapted from Guai Shu Shu
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