Make Simple and Delicious Radish Cake for the Holidays

Radish cake is a staple at Chinese New Year celebrations, and it’s easy to see why. This savory dish has a unique flavor that is both sweet and salty. Plus, it’s simple to make! If you’re looking for an easy yet delicious holiday dish, then look no further than radish cake. Here’s how to whip up this delectable dish in no time.

Radish cake is not a cake in the traditional sense, as it does not contain any wheat flour or leavening agents such as baking powder or baking soda. Instead, it is made from shredded radishes and glutinous rice flour, which is a type of rice flour that is sticky and glutinous when cooked. The mixture is steamed and then cut into squares or slices and pan-fried before serving. Radish cake is a savory dish that is often served as a dim sum dish or snack in China, and it is enjoyed for its flavorful and slightly crunchy texture. It is not sweet like a traditional cake, and it does not have a soft and spongy texture like a cake made with wheat flour.

Choose the Right Ingredients

Radish cake is a traditional Chinese dish that is made from shredded radishes, glutinous rice flour, and other ingredients such as diced Chinese sausage, shiitake mushrooms, and dried shrimp. The mixture is steamed and then cut into squares or slices and pan-fried before serving. Radish cake is often served as a dim sum dish or as a snack. It is a popular and flavorful dish that is enjoyed by many people in China and around the world.

For those new to exploring Asian flavors, I would advice start by crafting the most basic version of this dish, which is a plain radish cake. With its streamlined directions and manageable ingredients, this recipe is perfect for novice cooks to experiment with. Expand your culinary repertoire as you become more confident with this dish.

Plain Radish Cake Recipe

It is possible to make radish cake without any additional ingredients such as Chinese sausage, shiitake mushrooms, or dried shrimp. Here is how to make a basic radish cake.

The key to making great radish cake is using the right ingredients. Start with daikon radish – for this recipe, you will need 1 ½ cups of daikon radish, 2 cups of cooked white sticky rice, 1 cup of all-purpose flour, 4 tablespoons of vegetable oil, 3 tablespoons of soy sauce, 2 teaspoons of sesame oil, 1 teaspoon each of salt and sugar. Optional ingredients include ¼ cup of mushroom pieces (you can use canned or dried mushrooms), garlic powder and white pepper to taste.

Instructions
1. Start by grating your daikon radish into small pieces. Once finished, mix in 2 cups cooked white sticky rice until it forms an even mixture. Add in the all-purpose flour until just combined.
2. Heat your wok over medium heat and add in the vegetable oil. Once the oil is hot enough (but not smoking) add in the mushroom pieces and cook for about 5 minutes until lightly browned. Add in the radish/rice mixture and stir-fry for another 5 minutes until everything is evenly combined.
3. Add in the soy sauce, sesame oil, salt and sugar to taste (and garlic powder/white pepper if desired). Stir-fry for another 5 minutes until everything is evenly mixed together and heated through. Transfer to a greased cake pan or molding tray (the size should depend on how large you want your final product to be).
4. Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes or until golden brown on top.  Let cool completely before serving – radish cake is best served when cooled!
5. To serve, cut into slices or cubes depending on what shape you molded it into originally.

With just a few ingredients and minimal effort you can create a delicious dish that will wow your guests every time! So don’t hesitate – give radish cake a try today and enjoy its unique flavor during your holiday festivities.

What Does Radish Cake Taste Like?

You should be wondering what it taste like, aren’t you? Radish cake has a savory and slightly sweet flavor, with a crunchy and slightly chewy texture. The main ingredient, shredded radishes, gives the cake a slightly spicy and pungent flavor, while the glutinous rice flour gives it a slightly sweet and chewy texture. Radish cake is often served with a dipping sauce such as soy sauce or chili oil, which adds an additional layer of flavor to the dish.

The addition of ingredients such as Chinese sausage, shiitake mushrooms, and dried shrimp can add additional flavor and texture to the radish cake.

Overall, radish cake is a flavorful and satisfying dish that is enjoyed by many people in China and around the world.

Does Radish Cake Contain Turnips?

There are all sorts of variations on radish cake, and while turnip is often used as an ingredient, it’s not necessarily required. Some recipes call for grated radish instead, or a combination of both turnip and radish. The key is to use a binding agent like rice flour or cornstarch to help hold the cake together, and then add in whatever flavors you like.

What About Frozen Radish Cake?