Rice Steamed Cake 大米发糕 （dà mǐ fā gāo）
Rice Steamed Cake, a traditional and delightful pastry that captivates people’s senses. Its simple appearance hides rich cultural connotations and unique aesthetic elements. Each piece of Rice Steamed Cake showcases natural patterns and delicate air holes, resembling exquisite works of art. Originally a prized delicacy in the palace, it gradually spread to the general public and became a widely beloved food. In many regions of China today, Rice Steamed Cake holds special meanings and symbolic significance. For instance, in southern China, it is considered a symbol of good fortune and auspiciousness, often offered as a gift during festivals and celebratory occasions. In northern China, Rice Steamed Cake symbolizes reunion and happiness, frequently enjoyed during family gatherings and festive celebrations. The texture of Rice Steamed Cake is soft, glutinous, and sweet, melting in the mouth and leaving a lingering flavor. Its enticing aroma arouses one’s appetite. When tasting Rice Steamed Cake, one can appreciate its delicate texture and sweet taste, immersing themselves in its deliciousness.
Comprehensive rating:
| PREP TIME | COOK TIME | VARIETY | MOUTHFEEL | LEVEL |
| 90 min | 40 min | 6 | Soft and glutinous | Easy |
| Rice | 300g |
| Yeast | 3g |
| Sugar | 30g |
| Flour | 10g |
| Raisin | 8g |
| Black sesame seed | 5g |
Steps:
1.Take a bowl and pour an appropriate amount of rice into it. Next, add enough water to fully cover the rice, ensuring it is well soaked. The purpose of soaking the rice is to soften it and increase its water absorption, leading to better cooking and enjoyment. The rice absorbs water during the soaking process, becoming more fluffy and easily digestible.
2.Pour the soaked rice into the container of a juicer. The soaked rice becomes soft and easier to blend and grind. Then, pour about 180 milliliters of water into the juicer, adding enough liquid to achieve a smooth and thin consistency for the rice batter. The amount of water can be adjusted based on personal preference and desired texture. Start the juicer and select the appropriate program or setting to begin blending and grinding the mixture of rice and water. The juicer will thoroughly blend the rice and water, using high-speed rotating blades to create a smooth rice batter. Once the rice batter is well blended, carefully pour it into a bowl for later use.
3.In a bowl containing the rice batter, add 3 grams of yeast. Yeast is a microorganism that facilitates dough fermentation, making it light and elastic. Next, add 30 grams of white sugar. Sugar provides the yeast with the necessary carbohydrates for fermentation and adds sweetness to the dough. Then, add two tablespoons of flour. Adding flour helps increase the thickness and stickiness of the dough, aiding in the formation of a soft dough structure. Stir well to ensure that the yeast, sugar, and flour are thoroughly mixed into the rice batter. Cover the bowl with a lid and allow the dough to rest and ferment. Place it in a warm location and wait for the dough to double in size. This proofing process usually takes time and depends on the ambient temperature and yeast’s activity. Generally, it takes about 1 hour, but closely monitor the dough’s progress to ensure it ferments to the desired size.
4.When the dough has doubled in size, gently stir it to release the trapped air in the rice batter, making the dough more even and compact. Gently stir the dough, starting from the edges of the bowl and folding towards the center, then pushing back down along the edges. Repeat this stirring process to help the dough release excess bubbles and air. Take caution not to overmix the dough, as it may become too dense. The aim is to maintain a soft and elastic dough. Through stirring, the dough becomes more homogeneous, ensuring an even distribution of the bubbles formed during fermentation. This guarantees that the final baked goods or other food items will have a soft and pleasing texture.
5.Carefully pour the well-stirred rice batter into paper cups. You can choose standard-sized cups to ensure that the resulting snacks or cakes are of appropriate size. Fill the cups with the rice batter to about 80% full. Leave some space for the dough to ferment and expand, ensuring that the final baked goods have a moderate size. Next, sprinkle raisins on the surface of the batter. Raisins add texture and sweetness to the snacks while providing additional nutritional value. Sprinkle some black sesame seeds as well. Black sesame seeds have a unique aroma and flavor, adding delicious sesame notes to the snacks. Sprinkling raisins and black sesame seeds not only enhances the visual appeal but also adds more layers of flavor to the taste.
6.Heat water in a pot. Place the paper cups filled with rice batter, raisins, and black sesame seeds in a suitable steamer or steaming rack. Position the cups on the rack, ensuring that there is some distance between the cups and the bottom of the steamer to avoid direct contact with the heat source. Cover the steamer and allow the rice batter in the cups to steam in the environment created by cold water coming to a boil. This steaming method enables the snacks to cook evenly and become tender. Reduce the heat to maintain a simmering temperature of the water. Steam for 30 minutes. During this time, the rice batter gradually solidifies and matures, becoming softer. After steaming, turn off the heat, but do not immediately open the steamer lid. Let the rice batter in the cups continue to stay warm for an additional 5 minutes. This allows for better expansion and shaping of the rice batter.
7.After the steaming process, wait for the steamed cakes to cool slightly for about 5 minutes. This is done to ensure that the cakes are at a comfortable temperature and easier to remove from the paper cups. Once cooled, carefully remove the paper cups from the cakes. Arrange the removed steamed cakes on a beautiful plate or tray. Now, these delicious steamed cakes are ready to be served!
Tips:
1.Before starting the preparation, soak the rice for a period of time, usually around half an hour. This allows the rice to absorb enough water, becoming softer and easier to blend into rice batter.
2.During the proofing process, place the dough in a warm spot to allow it to ferment and double in size. However, be cautious not to overproof as it may result in a loose texture of the steamed cakes.
Steamed rice cakes made from rice have high nutritional value, containing abundant nutrients such as proteins, carbohydrates, fats, minerals, and vitamins. Through fermentation, the starch and proteins in rice become more easily absorbed and utilized by the body, helping to improve immune function. Additionally, steamed rice cakes contain dietary fiber and beneficial bacteria, promoting gut health and enhancing digestion. Consuming steamed rice cakes in moderation can meet the body’s energy requirements, boost resistance, and contribute to overall health.