My earliest memories of Lunar New Year consist of food: delicious smells wafting from the kitchen, my grandparents lovingly cooking meals to enjoy as a family. However, out of all the delicacies we ate together, my favorite was nian gao, a traditional Chinese dessert that signifies luck and prosperity. Our family fridge was always stocked with slabs of nian gao prepared by my grandpa and his friend, and I would watch excitedly as my mom fried them in egg wash to serve after dinner. Nian gao became more than just a mouthwatering dessert; the preparation and enjoyment evolved into an ingrained cultural tradition that formed my childhood and turned into ways I can keep my culture alive through cooking.
Essentially, nian gao is a sweet, gelatinous cake consisting of glutinous rice flour and sugar, and is often pan-fried in egg for a crispier, robust taste. Adapted from my family recipe, here is one way you can celebrate Lunar New Year through the joy of making nian gao.
Ingredients (for about 8 servings):
For the nian gao base:
2 cups of glutinous rice flour
1 cup of brown sugar
1 1/2 cups of room temperature tap water
To prepare for enjoyment:
Your nian gao base (~8 slices)
2 eggs
Instructions:
For the nian gao base:
- Melt sugar in a pot and stir well until caramelization. It should appear as a bubbling, brown liquid. Take the pot off the stove.
- Pour the water into the pot of sugar and make sure it’s mixed well.
- Add the rice flour and stir until the mixture is fluffy and completely smooth.
- Coat a circular 15 inch pan with butter and pour the mixture into it. Cover your pan with a cloth to ensure that water from the steam doesn’t get into the mixture.
- Steam the nian gao on medium heat for one hour until a toothpick comes clean from the center and the texture is gelatinous. (To steam, position the pan of nian gao on a steaming rack above a pot of boiling water.)
- Cool for 20 minutes and store in the refrigerator.
To prepare for enjoyment (~8 servings):
- Cut your circular nian gao base into eight slices using a pie cut, which is like cutting pizza slices.
- In a small bowl, whisk two eggs.
- Dip each nian gao piece into the egg wash, making sure to fully coat every slice.
- Fry each nian gao slice until golden brown and crispy on the outside. Serve right away and enjoy!
Nian gao is a classic Lunar New Year dessert that stood the test of time and will continue to do so for generations to come. Celebrate the New Year with this delightful treat, crafted from the comfort of your own home!
