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Shanghai stir-fried rice cakes
Shànghǎi chǎo niángāo (上海炒年糕): chewy rice-cake ovals stir-fried with pak choi and mushrooms in a soy glaze
Every Shanghai noodle shop has this on the menu: oval slices of rice cake, made from pounded rice, tossed in a wok with Shanghai pak choi and mushrooms until chewy and glossy brown. At New Year it's eaten for luck, because niángāo sounds like 'higher every year'. The usual version adds shredded pork, but it's often made with vegetables alone. Look for packs of sliced rice cakes in the fridge or freezer of Chinese supermarkets. Chef's tip: soak the slices in cold water first, so they cook evenly and don't stick together.
- Total time
- 22 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 3
Ingredients
Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Drain 16 oz sliced rice cakes (nian gao) and separate any slices stuck together. Mix 1 ½ tbsp light soy sauce, 1 tsp dark soy sauce, 1 tbsp vegetarian oyster sauce (mushroom-based), 1 tsp sugar and ¼ cup water in a cup.
Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a wok over a high heat. Stir-fry 2 cloves garlic, 6 fresh shiitake mushrooms and ½ carrot for 2 minutes, until the mushrooms soften and smell savoury.
2 minStep 3: Add the white stems of 9 oz Shanghai pak choi or Napa cabbage and stir-fry for 1 minute, then splash 1 tbsp Shaoxing rice wine round the side of the wok so it sizzles.
1 minStep 4: Add the rice cakes and the sauce. Toss and stir for 4–5 minutes over a medium-high heat, adding a splash more water if they start to catch. They're ready when soft right through, chewy and coated in a glossy brown glaze.
5 minStep 5: Common mistake: not adding enough liquid, so the rice cakes stay hard in the middle and weld to the wok. Add the green 9 oz Shanghai pak choi or Napa cabbage leaves and toss for 30 seconds until wilted, then serve at once; rice cakes firm up as they cool.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 400 kcal
- Protein
- 7 g
- Carbs
- 80 g
- Fat
- 8 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does shanghai stir-fried rice cakes take?
- About 22 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 12 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 3 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- What can I use instead of garlic?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
- What can I use instead of fresh shiitake mushrooms?
- Aubergine, diced, same weight.
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