Steamed Fruit Cake - New Years Treat
Also known as Sticky Cake, this New Years dish is traditionally fed to the Chinese Kitchen God, so that he will give a favorable report on the family's behavior throughout the previous year when he returns to heaven.
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 3 Chinese dates or jujubes
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 3/4 cup boiling water
- 1 1/4 cups glutinous rice flour
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons whole milk
- 1 piece crystallized ginger, diced (optiona)
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
PREPARATION:
Rub the oil over a 8 or 9-inch cake pan. Set aside.
Soften the dates by soaking them in hot water for at least 30 minutes. Drain, chop in half and remove the pits.
In a small bowl, dissolve the sugar in the boiling water.
Place the glutinous rice flour in a large bowl. Stir in the sugar and water mixture. Add the egg and milk. Knead until you have a shiny moist dough. Stir in the ginger and walnuts.
Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan. Decorate with the chopped dates. Steam the cake for 45 - 50 minutes, or until the edges move away from the cake pan. Cool and cut into thin slices.
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