Fried Nian Gao 年糕 (Year Cake) - Chinese New Year Spring Festival is near

[StephenAbraham]

Chinese Spring Festival 春节 (Chinese New Year) is about 1 week away. What better thing to do in Connect than to write a post a day related to Chinese New Year.

One of the important special food to eat during Chinese New Year is Nian Gao 年糕 (literally translated as Year Cake). It’s not costly so even the least wealthy of families should be able to get access to some Nian Gao, as it’s only made with sugar and rice flour. Nowadays, most families don’t make it from scratch and rather just buy a ready made Nian Gao for cooking.

“Nian Gao” written as “年糕” means “Nian 年” which means “Year”. And “Gao 糕” meaning “Cake”. “Nian 年” also has the same pronunciation as another word “Nian 黏” which means “Stickiness”. And “Gao 糕” has the same pronunciation as another word “Gao 高” which means “Tall/High”. So, families who eat this during the Chinese New Year have blessings of togetherness and growth of prosperity of going higher.

Nian Gao can be eaten steamed, or fried with crispy flour batter (my favorite way of eating).

Today I had bought a pack of Nian Gao and fried half of it because it’s really delicious and I could not wait another week.

In Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, here are some places to find the best prepared and cooked Nian Gao 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

[Picture below] A store bought packet of Nian Gao. Very conveniently packed.

[Picture below] Removing the Niangao from the container. Needs a lot of prying because it’s so sticky.

[Picture below] Making the batter with all purpose flour, salt, some baking powder. Then cut the Nian Gao to small pieces, coat it with batter.

[Picture below] Frying the Nian Gao in vegetable oil until golden brown

[Picture below] Ready. Crispy on the outside, sticky and chewy in the inside.

[Picture below] Great snack with hot Chinese Tea

Have you tried Nian Gao before?

How are you preparing to celebrate Chinese Spring Festival this year with still so much of lockdown, especially where I am in Malaysia.

Come join us for our Virtual Chinese New Year Spring Festival Virtual Meet-up on 9th Feb 2021. Info in the link below.

https://www.localguidesconnect.com/t5/General-Discussion/Virtual-Meet-up-9-Feb-Chinese-New-Year-Spring-Festival-2021/td-p/2854294

Read previous post about Mandarin Oranges

https://www.localguidesconnect.com/t5/General-Discussion/It-s-that-time-again-Spring-Festival-%E6%98%A5%E8%8A%82-is-in-the-offing/td-p/2833330

Chinese New Year Spring Festival starts on Feb 12, 2021 and is celebrated for 15 days.

[Lusianaa]

@StephenAbraham In my family’s tradition, Nian Gao is allowed to be fried the day after the Chinese New Year. So, I have to wait until next week

[StephenAbraham]

@Lusianaa I could not wait for the deliciousness, so I made yesterday. And bought extra packets for new year again.

[MalaysiaAsia]

Wow, it’s been a while since I last had this. Glad you bought extra too, cause with the MCO2 and lockdowns and no reunion dinners, you will be eating these during CNY @StephenAbraham Kung Hey Fatt Choy!

Edited: Spelling error

[TsekoV]

I so much miss eating 年糕， @StephenAbraham ! Thanks for sharing the story of this snack (I am actually not quite sure is it a snack, a dessert, or a dish?, I believe it is a snack ).

I used to enjoy it a lot while living in China and would have it every once and again. It can be perfectly combined with many Asian dishes. I remember eating it hotpot soups (呷哺呷哺) or grilled on sticks (烤串). I so much miss this taste that I started drooling now. Another favorite combination of mine is having spicy Korean dishes with Nian Gao.

I would be a very tempting combination to have it fried. Is this your favorite version?

What about you, @Lusianaa , do you often eat this snack in Indonesia?

Wishing everyone happy preparation and celebration of the Spring Festival.

[FalguniP]

@StephenAbraham

Traditional food is really great to eat as we wait for the special days to enjoy the delicious food.

Previously I loved the moon cake and now this one too.

Thanks for sharing

[Lusianaa]

Thanks for your greetings @TsekoV

Yes, I always eat this cake every Chinese New Year. Here we called it kue keranjang. It is made of glutinous rice flour and brown sugar, and often eaten fried or steamed as @StephenAbraham said. I’m intrigued by savory nian gao dishes that you mentioned. Does it use kind of plain tteokbokki (Korean rice cake)?

Take a look at this post kak @iorikun301 It is what we called kue keranjang, and eaten during Chinese New Year. It is different from the mooncake that we have previously discussed.

[Harsha_Reddy]

Hello @StephenAbraham

Good to know about the Chinese new year and this special dish.

“Have you tried Nian Gao before?” - I didn’t get an opportunity to try. If I get one I will surely try it.

Many thanks for the post.

Regards, HR

[iorikun301]

Ah, I seeeee~

I always thought that kue keranjang and kue bulan are the same, Kak @Lusianaa . And I was wrong. Wkwkk~

And I just realized that in Malaysia people are also deep-fried the year cake just like here in Indonesia, @StephenAbraham . Was the batter that used here are just mixture of flour and water, or do you put another ingredients?

[AdrianLunsong]

Wow… what a blast from my past @StephenAbraham ! I think that the last time I had this was 20+ years ago! I really miss it!

@TsekoV it’s interesting that your version is eaten with other dishes! For my family (I can’t speak for everyone because I’m not familiar with this tradition), it’s a sweet snack eaten on its own. I think my mum made it whenever she felt like it rather than specifically for Chinese New Year!

[TsekoV]

Hey @Lusianaa ,

Thank you for reminding me of the name of the Korea dish. It was tteokbokki and I used to enjoy it quite a lot.

Would you have kue keranjang often throughout the whole year?

[TsekoV]

This type of dish should be bringing lots of good memories, doesn’t it @AdrianLunsong ?

This year it would be easier to taste some and enjoy a great time with family.

[AdrianLunsong]

@TsekoV Yes, childhood dishes tend to have those effects! Unfortunately, it will have to wait another year as I’m back in the UK (got in end of Jan) for a few months to sort some things out. My family have the simplest (low-key) celebrations (if at all). In fact, I don’t think we’ve ever celebrated Chinese New Year in a big way; no traditional dishes, no family reunions, no fire crackers etc. And this year, my siblings can’t travel too and they are stuck in China and Singapore respectively.

[Lusianaa]

@TsekoV Kue keranjang is only sold during Chinese New Year. It can get moldy quickly (because it doesn’t contain preservatives), but it can be refrigerated up to 6 months and even 1 year. Personally, I don’t like to keep my food for a long period of time, so it is more likely that I will consume my kue keranjang within 1 month. To reheat the cake, I will use steamer or fry it until it becomes soft and chewy again

[Lusianaa]

@AdrianLunsong Glad to hear you made it back safely in the UK. You know, same thing happens here. Although almost all my relatives live in the same city, but it has been decided that there will be no family reunions this year