Happy Chinese New Year and may the year of Tiger bring lots of good wealth, good health, good food to one and all!
A quick one before I scuttle off for New Year Lunch. I choose to make a traditional steamed rice cake today. Known as Huat Kueh (发糕), these dense little cake are more symbolic than tasty. The Chinese pronounciation of the name of this cake is akin to the meaning of to rise higher and prosper. Hence, it is a firm favourite during celebratory religious rituals. I do remember hearing stories from my aunties and older relatives relating the superstition connected to the making of this cake. Kids were always told to shut up when the cake is being steamed, for fear that if something offensive is said, the kitchen god/ cake fairy may become angry and the cake will not rise. A flopped Huat Kuey, to the superstitious, signifies a full year of bad luck.
Hence it was with a little trepidation that I made this today. Of course, I kept mum throughout the whole process and restrained from giving in to my impatience of lifting the lid to peek at the cake . I was really really pleased with the results. Perhaps this success would signify good luck for me in the year of the Tiger?... I am keeping my fingers crossed. :)
Recipe :
180g Sugar
180ml water
200g cake flour
50g rice flour
2 tsp baking powder
food colouring
Method :
1. Boil sugar in water until dissolved. Set aside to cool.
2. Sift cake flour, rice flour and baking powder together. Combine with sugar syrup. Mix well to combine.
3. Add colouring.
4. Portion into paper cups. Steam over high heat for 20mins.
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17 comments:
Wow, they are absolutely gorgeous and so fluffy and light! You should be very proud of them! Happy Chinese New Year Shirley! :D
SOOOO pretty and pink and u are awesome....posting on CNY!!! happy new year to you again Shirley!! ^^
They seems easy... it' a vegan recipe... i have to try it!!!
Makes me miss home as they remind me very much of a Philippine snack called puto... They rose so high Shirley - for sure it will be a good year ahead for you!
Happy CNY to you too! These little cakes are making me homesick!!
Is this the same as fatt kou (in cantonese)?
Happy Chinese New Year! Gong Xi Fa Chai!
Hello Tracie, Gong Hei Fatt Choy and yes, this is the Fatt Kou...Fatt fatt fatt..!
Shirley
Nice pretty hua kueh.....you for sure will huat ah....
Must remember to give me a treat : P
The cake will automatically huat to four portions? Just curious? I know my grandma will sprinkle sugar diagonally across the cake (to make a cross pattern) - that is the steamed egg cake version.
Fa fa!
Happy New Year, Irene. I just scooped them into the cupcake liners and steam. I didn't use any sugar. This version does not have egg - it tastes more similar to those used for prayer. It becomes quite hard, need to steam again before eating... Huat lah!!
Happy New Year..Thank you for all your beautiful photos:)
I personally like everything w/ Rice flour..a lightness..and now I buy mine at a favored Asian market..This is a cute cute post~ Hope you had a nice lunch!
Your Huat Kueh is so pretty! I love the colour and how even they have huat! 祝你虎年身体健康,工作顺利, 万事如意!
I'm so excited you made this! My mum just loves this kueh (as do I). SO good with sugar and coconut!
mrsmultitasker, just a quick note. I think I know what you mean by the kueh you eat with sugar and coconut. Unfortunately this is not that. This is really more similar to the type used for prayer - it is denser. Hence, you will need to steam it to soften it before eating...:) Let me check if I can find a recipe for the softer version...
These look gorgeous...so pretty! They seem pretty easy as well, do they break open like that as they steam??
It seems pretty easy to make, and nice and light. Seems kid friendly too which is always good.
hi, i just tried your recipe but the huat kueh doesnt "smile". Wonder if there's any other step that i may have done wrongly.
@Anonymous : Sorry I did not get back to you earlier. I am guessing it has to do with your steaming temperature. Did you try to open the steamer when you were steaming it? You shouldn't do so.
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