A rice cake prepared from long steaming of glutinous rice and sugar. The familiar image of a New Year Sweet Rice Cake or nian gao, is a welcome sight during Chinese New Year. Nian gao symbolizes progress, advancement, and growth. Nián means year, and gāo is a homonym for gāo, which means high or expensive. It is also simply known as "rice cake". While it can be eaten all year round, traditionally it is most popular during the Chinese New Year. Mandarin dishes are high in nutrients, vitamins and fibre, as well as low in calories. This makes it great as a healthy snack.
