Turnip Cake (港式臘味蘿蔔糕) Updated: Instant Pot Method

Turnip cake is a very popular food during Chinese New Year.  We usually make these cakes ahead of time and pan fried it when guests arrives.

Ingredients:

1600g        Turnip (白蘿蔔)
200g          Rice Flour (粘米粉)
2 Tbsp       Cornstarch
2 Tbsp       Wheat Starch (澄麵)
2                Chinese Sausage (臘腸)
1                Chinese Bacon (臘肉)
6                Dried Shiitake Mushrooms (冬菇)
4                Dried Scallops (乾瑤柱)
3 Tbsp       Dried Shrimps (蝦米)
2 cup         Chicken Stock
2 Tbsp       White Pepper
2 Tbsp       Sugar
1 Tbsp       Salt
1 Tbsp       Fish Sauce
                  Sesame Seeds

 Method:

1. Soak the shiitake mushrooms, dried scallops and dried shrimps in hot water until re-hydrated and soften.
   
2. Cut mushrooms, dried shrimps, Chinese bacon, and Chinese sausage into dice 
   
3. Cut about 600g turnip into small strips and then shred the rest.  You can use a food processor to shred the turnip.  I used the KitchenAid shredder attachment this time which worked out well. 
   
   
4. Mix rice flour, cornstarch and wheat starch in a mixing bowl.  Stir in 1.5 cups of chicken stock until smooth, then set batter aside
    
   
5. Heat up a wok, add a tablespoon cooking oil and stir-fry the shiitake mushrooms, dried shrimps, and Chinese sausage until fragrant. 
   
6. Remove mixture from heat and set aside
7. Use the same wok to cook the turnip strips, add a little chicken stock if it becomes too dry
8. Cook until translucent and almost softened 
9. Add the shredded turnip into the wok and cook with the rest of the 0.5 cup of chicken stock 
   
10. Cook until softened, add salt, pepper, sugar and fish sauce to the turnip, then remove from heat
11. Stir the rice flour batter and make sure it is well mixed
12. Add the rice flour batter into the wok and mix well 
    
13. Generously oil the foil pan and put the turnip mixture into foil pan.  You can also you any glass or other baking dish as long as it fits into your steamer 
    
14. Steam the turnip cake mixture for 1 hour or until cooked through.   It is done with you stick a toothpick or chopstick in the cake and it comes out clean

Instant Pot Method:

1. Put 1 or 2 cups of water in the Instant Pot, put the turnip cake in the pot with the trivet. 
   
2. Setting: Pressure cook 15 minutes
3. 10 minutes pressure release

Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and let cool.

You can slice the cake once it is cooled and service. However, it is easier to slice if you put it in the refrigerator overnight.  Cut them into slices and pan fried at add flavor and crunchiness.

Enjoy!


Ingredients that you can find at Chinese grocery stores:

Wheat Starch  & Rice Flour

Chinese Sausage

Chinese Bacon

Dried Scallop