Nian Gao

Name: Nian Gao
Yield: 2 servings
Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients: 400g sliced rice cakes (nian gao), soaked; 150g pork, cut into thin strips; 200g napa cabbage or bok choy, sliced; 4 shiitake mushrooms, sliced; 2 tbsp soy sauce and 1 tsp dark soy; 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine; Oil

年糕/nyen GOW/

Also known as: Nian Gao Chao, Chinese New Year Cake, Shanghai Rice Cakes, Stir-Fried Rice Cakes

About this dish

Sticky cakes of glutinous rice, either sweet and steamed with brown sugar, or sliced and stir-fried with pork and vegetables.

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Ingredients

🍚400g sliced rice cakes (nian gao), soaked

🐖150g pork, cut into thin strips

🥬200g napa cabbage or bok choy, sliced

🍄4 shiitake mushrooms, sliced

🫙2 tbsp soy sauce and 1 tsp dark soy

🍶1 tbsp Shaoxing wine

🛢️Oil

Method

Serves 2

Marinate the pork with a little soy, wine and cornflour.

Stir-fry the pork until just cooked and set aside.

Stir-fry the mushrooms and cabbage until wilted.

Add the drained rice cakes with a splash of water and cook until soft and chewy.

Return the pork, add the soy sauces and toss until glossy.

✓ What Makes it Authentic

Nian gao ('year cake') sounds like 'higher each year' and is eaten at Chinese New Year for good fortune; Shanghai is known for the stir-fried version.

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