Chinese Taro Cake for Two

Dim sum is a popular Chinese cuisine that consists of small dishes served in steaming baskets or plates. One of the most delicious and satisfying dim sum dishes is the taro cake, which is made from grated taro, rice flour, dried shrimp, Chinese sausage, and seasonings. The taro cake is pan-fried until golden and crispy on the outside, and soft and chewy on the inside. It is usually served with a savory soy sauce or a spicy vinegar sauce. If you love taro cake and want to make it at home, you might think that you need a lot of ingredients and equipment. But in fact, you can make a simple and tasty taro cake for two with just a few ingredients. Let's make this recipe together.

 

Ingredients:

1 medium taro, peeled and grated (about 2 cups)

1/2 cup rice flour

1/4 cup dried mushrooms, soaked and chopped

1/4 cup dried shrimp, soaked and chopped

1/4 cup Chinese sausage. diced

2 cups water, soaked from mushroom and shrimp

Seasonings:

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp sugar

1/4 tsp 5 spice powder

Others:

2 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 cup red onions, diced

1 scallion, chopped

Directions:

Prepare a cake pan (about 8 by 8 inches) with parchment paper for easy clean up.

In a large bowl, whisk together the rice flour and 1 cup soaked mushrooms and shrimp water. Mix well to have a smooth batter.

In a small wok, add 1 tbs oil. Add garlic and red onions and stir to cook until fragrant. Add grated taro and the soaked water from mushrooms and shrimp. Add the seasonings and adjust to your liking. 

Combine the rice batter with taro mixture and cook for 5 minutes. Pour the now taro and rice flour batter into the prepared cake pan.

Bring a steamer to boil and place the taro mixture into the steamer and steam for 30 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

To make a dim sum taro cake:

 Let the taro cake cool slightly in the dish. Cut into squares or rectangles.

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat some oil. Fry the taro cake pieces for about 3 minutes per side or until golden and crispy. Add scallions on top of the cake and transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain.

Enjoy your homemade dim sum taro cake for two, hot or warm, with your favorite sauce.

The soy dipping sauce:

1 tsp soy sauce

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp black vinegar or lime juice

2 tsp water

If you like hot, add some Thai chili pepper.