While noodles and dumplings enjoy undisputed supremacy when it comes to Chinese cuisine, but the cuisine itself is so wide, that there are many other appetisers that are waiting for their share of fame. One such appetizer that spells comfort for us is Turnip Cakes. An intrinsic part of Chinese New Year celebrations, Turnip cakes are also called radish cake, or Lo Bak Go.
The Chinese turnip, or lo bak, is a long, white vegetable with a green top. It is grated or cut in Julienne and mixed with other julienned veggies and mushrooms for a delicious vegetable-based mixture that is then mixed with rice flour and potato starch. This savoury batter is placed inside a tray and steamed. What you get at the end of it is a fluffy, spongy cake, that needs to be cut in squares and fried.
What makes these Turnip cakes a hit, is that they truly celebrate the vegetables, and the interplay of textures lingers on. Mr. Neeraj, Ging Master Chef, Royal Orchid Central Bangalore shares his recipe of Turnip cake. Try it soon and let us know how you liked it. You can pair it with soya sauce, or simply tuck into it as is, either way, you will be satisfied to bits.
Ingredients:
- 1 kg turnip
- 200 gm carrot
- 125 gm shitake mushroom
- 320 gm rice flour
- 175 gm wheat starch
- 75 gm potato starch
- 30 gm salt
- 80 gm sugar
- 40 gm aromate powder
- 75 gm refined oil
- 1 litre hot water
- 20 gm white pepper powder
- 10 gm sesame oil
Method:
- Cut all vegetables in julienne and wash it.
- Blanch the veggies or parboil it.
- Mix the vegetables with potato starch, wheat starch and rice flour then place it neatly in a tray and steam for one hour.
- Cut into square shapes, let it cool.
- Deep fry the squares. Top with fried garlic and spring onion.
