Have you seen these in supermarkets, especially during Chinese New Year season, but don’t know what it is?
During Chinese Spring New Year, as with many other seasons, we share in a lot of meaningful and cultural traditional food. “NianGao 年糕” or “New Year Cake” is one of it. Why it this meaningful?
“NianGao” written as “年糕” has the actual meaning of “Nian 年” which means “Year”. And “Gao 糕” meaning “Cake”.
“Nian 年” also has the same pronounciation as another word “Nian 黏” which means “Stickiness”. And “Gao 糕” has the same pronounciation as another word “Gao 高” which means “Tall/High”.
So when families come together to eat “NianGao 年糕”, it symbolizes family will be close and stick together with each other, and each year, family will grow higher or taller and have more happiness and prosperity and good fortune.
Nian Gao can be eaten steamed, or fried with crispy flour batter (my favorite way of eating).
In my city Kuala Lumpur, here are a few very popular small stalls to buy and try crispy friend niangao all year round. Very highly recommended.
Brickfields Goreng Pisang stall https://goo.gl/maps/ronY8rm5YnGY1wTKA
Imbi Kuih Bakul (Mei Sin shop) https://goo.gl/maps/LsBycQ3n3EZFrBpP8
and others
If you want to make it yourself, it’s quite simple. Just buy a pack of niangao, cut into thin slices. Make a batter of all purpose llour with egg and salt. Coat and fry until crispy. The inside niangao should be soft and almost molten. If you want a crispier texture, use tempura batter.
#CNYInMyCity #ChineseNewYear