'Nian Gao' ~ the sticky glutinous rice cake is regarded as an auspicious item during the Chinese New Year as its round shape signifies family reunion and harmony and its sweetness symbolises a rich, sweet life. 'Nian' sounds similar to 'year' and 'Gao' is 'high' in Chinese, thus Nian Gao implies promotion and prosperity year after year. Hence it's a common practice that these glutinous rice cakes are piled up on the altar as an offering to the Gods with a wish for abundance in all aspects for the coming year!
These 'Nian Gao' parcels are simply delicious and extremely yummy, more so served with a steaming pot of Chinese Pu-er.
Recipe for 'Nian Gao' sweet potato parcels ~ CNY 2012
Ingredients (Makes 25)
- 550 gm (nett wt.) sweet potatoes, steamed and mashed
- 350 gm Nian Gao, cut into 1/2 inch strips
- 1/2 tsp salt
- Popiah/spring roll skin wrapper (4 inch x 4 inch square)
- Egg white slightly beaten
- Oil for deep frying
- Steam the sweet potatoes, peel, mix in salt and mash till fine. Keep aside.
- Cut up the Nian Gao into strips about 1/2 inch width.
- Place a sheet of spring roll skin diagonally onto a work surface, spoon a dessertspoon of mashed potato, roughly make into a ball and place onto the lower end of the spring roll skin.
- Put a strip of Nian Gao on the sweet potato paste.
- Brush egg white round the 4 edges of the spring roll skin.
- Roll up, fold in both sides, roll up like a parcel. Seal tightly at the end.
- Heat up oil in a wok and once it's hot, lower heat and put in the parcels, sealed side down, a few at a time for even browning.
- Remove from wok, put on kitchen absorbent paper to cool.
- Serve warm.
Today, being the 15th day or the last day of the Chinese Lunar New Year
I wish everyone
Happy Chap Goh Meh!
Related Posts
Fried 'Nian Gao' ~ sticky rice cake ~ CNY 2010
Fried 'Nian Gao' ~ Revisited ~ CNY 2011
You may also like to view other Nian Gao recipes at :-
Elinluv's sweet delights
Table for 2 or more
Anncoojournal.com
I'm submitting this post to Malaysian Muhibbah Monday. Do check it out 'Here'.
Cheah,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the mention :)
Next year I must try your method as my family loves sweet potatoes. I like the pictures with the melted nian gao oozing out.... so yummy!
You're more than welcome, Ann. Think your family members will enjoy this.
DeleteWhoa, love to see those melting moment of nian gao. Never failed making me salivate.lol! haha....
ReplyDeleteHappy Yuen Xiao Jie to you & your family too, Cheah.
Enjoy & have fun.
Cheers
Kristy
Yours look nice too, Kristy.
Deletehi cheah, another fabulous idea of a nian gao snack! the filling looks very nice! Happy chap goh mei to you!!
ReplyDeleteLove the purple colour contrast with niangao.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's contrasting.
DeleteI am drooling....love the purple potato here.
ReplyDeleteHappy Lantern Festival!
Ha, ha, Angie, it's not the Lantern festival yet, only Yuen Siu jie, 15th and last day of the Lunar Chinese New Year.
DeleteThanks for the steps by steps photos. I like the bright purple colour of the sweet potatoes.
ReplyDeleteI have an award for you. Please claim it at my blog.
You're most welcome. Thanks for the award, and I've also received it from Yummylittlecooks.
DeleteCheah...this is so delicious and now looking at them makes me drool:) Thanks for the mention :) How are you keeping? Hope to have lunch together one day soon :)
ReplyDeleteYou're most welcome, Momsie. I'm fine, now can relax a bit after all the hustle and bustle during CNY.
Deletethis must tastes super yummy! :)
ReplyDeleteCheah, I have some awards for u at my blog
pls drop by whenever u can :)
http://iloveicookibake.blogspot.com/2012/02/awards.html
tho' I've never come across that nian gao ingredient here in western Kentucky, I am definitely gonna make a variation of this to use up some sweet potatoes. thanks for the idea!!
ReplyDeleteYou can watch on You-tube how this nian gao is made.
DeleteI saw Wendy prepared a similar nian gao but her one with taro instead of sweet potato.My kids will prefer sweet potato version, will make for them soon.
ReplyDeleteYes, I saw it too. I've mentioned it in my post. Hers was with taro and coconut.
DeleteFantastic color! So interesting even though I don't know what nian gao is. I'm going to look for it at Asian market for sure.
ReplyDeleteLooks yummilicious, dear friend!
ReplyDelete