Nian Gao (Chinese New Year Sticky Rice Cake) Nian gao is perhaps the most popular and well-loved dessert associated with Chinese New Year. I can never say no to this sweet and sticky rice cake! Legend says that families would offer the cake to the Chinese Kitchen God in the hope that he’ll put in a good word for them when he goes back to heaven. This EASY Chinese New Year Cake Recipe, or Baked Nian Gao, is sweet, sticky, and gooey with that mochi-like consistency when piping hot. (It's also delicious pan-fried.) Traditionally, Nian Gao is steamed but that takes forever, and you have to add the right amount of water for the New Year Cake to come out right. Re-create the Chinese street snack of sugar-coated fruit that's become a TikTok sensation. 2021 F&W Best New Chef Lucas Sin shares a simplified recipe that sticks to water, sugar, and a little bit Rice dumplings play their most important role in Chinese Lantern Festival, which is the last day of the Chinese New Year period. Therefore, they are one of the top Chinese New Year desserts. These sweet rice balls are often infused with black sesame seeds or mashed peanuts. Eating this auspicious dessert signifies unity within the family. 3. Nian Gao Recipe Instructions. 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. Try this Jujube Date Sticky Rice Cake to taste traditional Chinese New Year sweets. It has a sticky, taffy-like consistency and a sweet roasted fragrance and flavor from the jujube date jam (made with dried jujube dates). Celebrate Lunar New Year with nian gao (年糕), a steamed rice cake made of glutinous rice flour and brown sugar. This is based on Mama Lin's recipe. I made a slight modification by adding ground ginger to the batter to give the nian gao more flavor. My favorite way of enjoying this cake is slicing it into thin pieces and pan frying them in oil. 🥗 Other Chinese New Year Recipes; EASY Chinese New Year Cake (Baked Nian Gao) 💬 Comments; ⭐ Why This Recipe is a Star. Baked: the steaming method is traditional when making Chinese New Year Cake but can take up to 20 hours in a bamboo steamer! And this Chinese New Year dessert is a bit tricky, as you need to get the duration and heat 1. Nian Gao (Sticky Rice Cake) About: First up is the classic Nian Gao, or as some like to call it, Sticky Rice Cake. Made from glutinous rice flour and often sweetened with brown sugar, it has a chewy, almost mochi-like texture. And let’s not forget, during the Chinese New Year celebration, it’s practically everywhere. Nian Gao (年糕) or Chinese New Year Cake is often eaten during Lunar New Year for its auspicious name. "Nian" means year and "Gao" means cake. However, the same word in a different character means high or tall. This special treat is often gifted to family and friends to bring wishes for a better year. Celebrate Chinese New Year 2025 with the best Chinese New Year gift ideas for the Year of the Snake. From pineapple tarts and White Rabbit candy to exclusive gelato ice cream cakes and symbolic gifts like Money Trees, these presents embody prosperity, joy, and tradition. Perfect for family, friends, and festive gatherings. The Lunar New Year is this Friday, January 31, 2014. One of the traditional dishes eaten during the New Year for Chinese people is a New Year Cake. It’s a very simple steamed cake, made with glutinous rice flour for a mochi-like chewy texture and sweetened with brown sugar. The Foundation Bricks Legend. Nian Gao has another legend about its origin, dating back to around 2,500 years ago:. Legend has it that, after the death of Wu Zixu (伍子胥, 559–484 BC), a general and politician of the Wu kingdom in the Spring and Autumn Period (771–476 BC), the king of Yue, Goujian, attacked the capital of Wu, and the Wu army and citizens were trapped in the city and I’ve had my share of New Year rice cake, but the version I’m sharing today is one of the best I have ever tasted. Aside from the base ingredients, it includes finely chopped Chinese dates (aka Jujube or red dates) and walnuts. The dates add a sweet flavour with a hint of tart, while the walnuts add pops of nuttiness and crunch in each bite. Tikoy, or Nian Gao, is a traditional Chinese sweet rice cake dessert made from glutinous rice flour. It is available all-year-round, however, it is popularly made or given as gifts during the Chinese New Year. It symbolizes good luck and prosperity to those who will eat it. The term Nian Gao is a homonym for higher/taller year. Allergy Friendly Steamed Rice Cake. I am excited to share this particular recipe because nian gao is vegan, gluten-free, and free of the top 9 allergens, whoo-hoo!. And I was thrilled to find out that my mom’s favorite sweet rice flour by Koda Farms. is produced in a rice only facility that is free of the top 8 allergens, gluten free, and GMO free. Nian gao, also known as rice cake or New Year cake, is a traditional Chinese dish like turnip cake, taro cake, pineapple cake, braised mushrooms and sesame balls. It is commonly consumed during the Chinese New Year celebration. The name nian gao (年糕) is a homonym for "higher year" or "advancing year" in Chinese. 27. Nian Gao (Chinese New Year Sticky Rice Cake) This sticky, sweet cake is a must If you’re hosting a New Year’s party. Symbolizing progress, advancement, and growth, it’s a traditional (and tasty!) way to get your year off to a great start. The classic recipe is simple – sugar, water, and rice flours. This Chinese new year cake is a sweet rice cake that is traditionally eaten during the lunar new year celebrations. Nian gao is directly translated to sticky cake, "nian" meaning sticky and "gao" meaning cake. Every family will buy this treat to celebrate the lunar new year, and it's also a very popular gift when visiting friends and family It's a popular dessert to enjoy during Lunar New Year as eating the cake is believed to bring good luck for the new year. Chinese New Year Cake Ingredients. If you're planning on making nian gao for the Chinese new year, it's a good idea to head down to your local Asian supermarket or specialty store for ingredients.
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