Calling all Chinese Cooks!

[sravenne]

I'm looking for the name of a rice cake - and I know there are TONS of versions of rice cakes out there so let me try to describe it as detailed as possible.

1. You can find it in ChinaTown
2. It's very spongy and almost jelly-like.
3. Sweet
4. Often cut into long triangles
5. It may not contain rice wine, but I think I can taste some in it.
6. The outside is fairly greasy.

I'm trying to find a recipe for it, but I can't figure out the name. I've googled everything! Thanks so much!

[tlew12778]

Hm. Well I know what you are talking about but I have no idea how to phonetically spell it to google it (tried... many versions). I am pretty sure they make it with rice flour, not actual rice.

Oh my BGF found this (http://orion.passwall.com/spacefood/9SepEastAsian/SteamedRiceCake.htm)for you!

[Franni]

Are you referring to the ones that need to be fried with egg? Or steamed?

[sravenne]

Yes - I was looking for the steamed...OH my goodness! I can't believe your friend found this for me. I thought for sure no one would know what I'm talking about, but I'd take a chance. Thanks so much! I'm taking a second look at it and the ingredients and I'm now thinking it's not it. It's more of a gooey jelly type cake rather than a cakey cake....It looks very similar though. Let me see if I can find a picture. Thanks again for your great help!

Kim

[sravenne]

As tiny as this picture is, it's the only one I could find. Does this look familiar to anyone?

http://dimsumonline.com/images/ricecake.jpg

[sravenne]

Are you referring to the ones that need to be fried with egg? Or steamed?

Franni - I know which one you're talking about - we usually eat it around New Year's? I love it - but this one is different. It's spongey, but very jelly like.

[TriSigmaNC]

That would be with rice flour, not rice. I'm not of Chinese origin, but DH cooks many types of Asian foods and we study and eat them very regularly.

[sravenne]

ok - I think I found it. I appreciate you gals helping. The recipe you gave me had all the right ingredients, just cooked slightly differently. Now -should I dare even trying to make it?

http://starbulletin.com/2003/05/21/features/story1.html

[polarama]

Ah, I know what you're talking about--you can find it at chinese bakeries. In my family, it's called "lwen dwen gao" (or london cake, i think.) The tricky part is the fermentation, I would think.

Much easier to buy it. :) :D

[sravenne]

Thanks, Polarama! Unfortunately, around here, they taste bad. =) I've even gone to the DC Chinatown and they're pretty terrible. I'm fermenting some rice right now. I'll let you know how it goes!

[polarama]

You're in DC too? I'm in NOVA and I've found some good ones out in Rockville (there's a Maria's bakery on Rockville Pike) and at the Chinese grocery store, Kam Sam in Annandale (actually, there's a Maria's there too).

I'm really curious to know how it turns out! Keep us posted.

[Ummm]

for some reasons i can't see the pics posted or the links to work, but from your description, it sounds like 'white sugar cake' to me (in cantonese).

here is a pic and recipe in chinese
http://www.leisure-cat.com/images/1442%20white%20sugar%20cake_1.jpg
http://www.leisure-cat.com/frm_1442.htm

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-103781974.html

[vjel]

I LOVE this stuff...now you have me craving for some! ;) but i had no idea what it was called. :o

sravenne, how did it come out for you?


You're in DC too? I'm in NOVA and I've found some good ones out in Rockville (there's a Maria's bakery on Rockville Pike) and at the Chinese grocery store, Kam Sam in Annandale (actually, there's a Maria's there too).


me too. :) I was going to suggest Maria's in Annandale also. I *think* I saw some at a bakery at Eden Center once too. Oddly, I think Rockville has more authentic Chinese stuff than Chinatown.

[tlew12778]

for some reasons i can't see the pics posted or the links to work, but from your description, it sounds like 'white sugar cake' to me (in cantonese).

here is a pic and recipe in chinese
http://www.leisure-cat.com/images/1442%20white%20sugar%20cake_1.jpg
Yeah I agree with the name. I was going to attempt to write it out phonetically but then it looked dumb and no one who doesn't speak Cantonese would have known what it meant anyway.

Re: the consistency and the look, I have had it more gooey from some bakeries and more cakey from others. I think it's the same stuff though (name-wise).