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Chinese New Year Turnip Cake

By Rhonda Parkinson, About.com

Really more like a bread than a cake, this recipe is traditionally made during the Chinese New Year season. It can also be found in dim sum restaurants throughout the year.

Serves 4 - 6

Ingredients:

  • 2 1/2 pounds lo bak (Chinese white radish), or substitute turnips
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 cups long-grain rice flour
  • 5 tablespoons oil
  • 1 tablespoon scallion, chopped fine
  • 4 dried black mushrooms
  • 1/4 cup dried shrimp, chopped fine, soaked in 1 tablespoon sherry
  • 4 Chinese sausages, chopped fine
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 tablespoon Chinese parsley (cilantro) chopped fine
  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, toasted

Preparation:

Peel and grate turnips. Simmer in 1 cup water for about 1 hour, or until tender.

Mix rice flour and turnips in bowl until consistency of thick oatmeal. Add 2 tablespoons of oil. Mix well. Set aside.

Heat 2 tablespoons oil in wok. Stir-fry scallion, mushrooms, shrimps and sausages and add to turnip mixture.

Add salt, sugar, and pepper. Mix thoroughly

Grease a 6 inch by 9 inch cake pan. Pour mixture into it. Sprinkle with parsley and sesame seeds. Place on rack in steamer. Steam over briskly boiling water 1 hour.

When cold, refrigerate overnight.

To serve, slice 1/4 inch thick, 2 inches wide, and 3 inches long. Fry slices in 1 tablespoon oil until golden brown. Serve hot.

Reprinted with permission from Madame Wong's Long-life Chinese Cookbook
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