Steamed cut cake, this traditional dish loved by the Chinese, is also known as steamed rice cake or rice cake. Whenever it is mentioned, it is always reminded of those hearty family gatherings and joyous holiday celebrations. It is not only a food, but also a cultural inheritance and emotional sustenance. Today, let's learn how to make this delicious steamed cut cake at home.
Steamed and cut cake originated from China's farming culture, with a long history and has been passed down to the present day. In ancient times, it was often made on important festivals or celebrations to express the hope of a better life. It symbolizes sweetness and ascension, implying family harmony and career success in the new year. Nowadays, steamed cakes have become an indispensable part of our daily lives, whether it is used for breakfast, afternoon tea or supper, it can bring people a full sense of happiness.
1. Material preparation
To make a delicious steamed cake, the following ingredients and tools need to be carefully selected and prepared:
Main materials: 500 grams of high-quality glutinous rice flour, which is the main raw material for making steamed and cut cakes, its texture and taste directly affect the quality of the finished product; 150 grams of sugar for sweetness and flavor; An appropriate amount of water is used to mix glutinous rice flour and sugar to form a thick paste.
Excipients: red dates, raisins and other dried fruits, which not only add rich taste and nutritional value to the steamed and cut cakes, but also make the finished product more attractive; In addition, spices such as osmanthus can also be added according to personal taste to enhance the aroma of steamed and cut cakes.
Tools: A high-quality steamer is essential to ensure that the steamed cakes are of high quality; You'll also need a large bowl for mixing ingredients, a mixing spoon for blending, a brush for applying cooking oil, and a suitable cake mold or any container for steaming.
In the process of preparing the ingredients, we need to pay attention to the freshness and quality of the ingredients to ensure that the steamed and cut cakes are delicious, healthy and nutritious.
2. The blending process of the paste
One of the key steps in making steamed and cut cakes is to mix glutinous rice paste. Let's take a closer look at the process:
Precise mixing of glutinous rice flour with water
Slowly pour 500 grams of glutinous rice flour into the prepared large bowl. At this time, special attention needs to be paid to the texture of glutinous rice flour, and delicate and impurity-free glutinous rice flour should be selected. Next, slowly add about 400ml of water. In the process of adding water, stir with a mixing spoon while adding water to ensure that the glutinous rice flour and water can be fully mixed to form a uniform paste. In order to avoid dry lumps or a paste that is too thin, the speed and amount of water added need to be strictly controlled.
The perfect blend of sugar
When the glutinous rice flour and water are mixed evenly, the next step is to add sugar. Sprinkle the pre-weighed 150g sugar evenly over the glutinous rice cereal, then continue to stir with a stirring spoon until the sugar is completely dissolved in the glutinous rice cereal. During this process, if the paste feels too thick, you can add a little water to make it easier to stir and steam afterwards. However, be careful not to add too much water, so as not to affect the taste and shape of the steamed cake.
Through these two steps, we were able to successfully create the glutinous rice paste needed to make the steamed and cut cakes. Next, we will move on to the processing and addition of excipients.
3. The processing and addition process of excipients
In order to make the steamed cake richer in taste and more nutritious, we can add some accessories such as red dates and raisins. Here's how to do it and add it:
Careful preparation of excipients
First, we need to pick out plump, moth-free dates and remove the pits. At the same time, wash the raisins with water and drain them for later use. The addition of these dried fruits will not only increase the taste and nutritional value of the steamed and cut cake, but also make it more beautiful and attractive.
Homogeneous excipients are added
Next, sprinkle the processed red dates and raisins evenly into the glutinous rice paste. During this process, you need to use a mixing spoon to gently mix well to ensure that the excipients are evenly distributed in the glutinous rice paste. In this way, you can taste the rich taste and depth of the steamed cut cake in every bite.
Once the excipients have been processed and added, we can start preparing the steamer and mold.
4. Careful preparation of steamer and mold
In order to ensure that the steamed cake cut is of high quality and easy to demold, we need to carry out meticulous preparation of the steamer and mold:
Preheating of the steamer and water level control
First, add enough water to the bottom of the steamer and preheat until the water boils. It should be noted here that the water level should be determined according to the height of the container of the steamed cake to ensure that it will not splash into the mold due to boiling during the steaming process, which will affect the forming and quality of the steamed cake. At the same time, it is also necessary to ensure that the steamer is well sealed to prevent water dripping from the steamer and affecting the appearance and taste of the steamed cake.
Anti-stick treatment of molds
Next, we need to choose a suitable mold or container to hold the glutinous rice paste for steaming. In order to prevent the steamed cut cake from sticking to the mold and difficult to remove, we need to brush a thin layer of cooking oil or lay a layer of baking paper on the inside of the mold to prevent sticking. This not only ensures that the steamed cut cake is complete and beautiful, but also can be easily demolded for easy consumption.
After completing the above preparations, we can move on to the final steaming process.
5. Detailed steps of the steaming process
Steaming is the last and most crucial step in making steamed and cut cakes. Here are the specific steaming steps:
Glutinous rice paste into the mold and flattening
Slowly pour the glutinous rice paste that has been mixed and added with trimmings into the oiled mold. During the pouring process, care should be taken to maintain an even speed to avoid bubbles or underfilling. Next, use a spatula or spoon back to gently smooth the surface to ensure that the steamed cake is in a regular shape.
Precise steaming time and fire control
Put the mold with the glutinous rice paste into the preheated steamer, cover the pot and start steaming. The steaming time is generally 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the size of the steamer and the intensity of the fire. In order to ensure the high quality of the steamed cakes, we need to pay close attention to the situation inside the steamer and adjust the heat level to maintain a stable steaming environment. During the steaming process, you can judge the steaming progress by observing the changes in the steamer or inserting chopsticks into the center of the cake to check whether it is cooked thoroughly. When the chopsticks can be easily pulled out and there is no sticking, it means that the steamed cake is fully cooked.
Cooling and demoulding of the cake
When the steamed cake is removed, it needs to be left to cool for at least half an hour, so that it is easier to cut and demold. During the cooling process, care should be taken to avoid external contamination or damage to the cake body to maintain its integrity and aesthetics. Once the cooling is complete, the steamed cake can be easily removed from the mold and cut and enjoyed.
With the above steps, we can successfully make a delicious steamed cake!
6. Handling and preservation methods of finished products
The steamed cut cake is not only delicious but also nutritious, making it a good choice for family dinners or holiday celebrations. In order to better preserve and enjoy steamed and cut cakes, we need to pay attention to the following points:
Reasonable cutting method
It is best to use a sharp knife and keep the knife surface moist when cutting steamed cakes to reduce sticking and breakage. The steamed cake can be cut into chunks or strips for easy consumption and sharing as needed. At the same time, attention should be paid to hygiene issues to avoid contamination and bacterial growth.
Proper storage methods
In order to extend the shelf life of steamed and cut cakes, we can store them in an airtight container and keep them in the refrigerator. Before serving, it can be removed in advance and left at room temperature to rewarm, or slightly heated in the microwave or steamer to restore the soft texture and flavor. You can also add some jam, honey and other condiments according to your personal taste to increase the taste level and nutritional value.
epilogue
Through the above detailed introduction, we can see that although there are many steps in making steamed and cut cakes, each step is relatively simple and easy, as long as you follow the steps and operate carefully, you can easily make delicious steamed and cut cakes. This traditional delicacy is not only sweet and soft in taste, but also rich in sugar and carbohydrates, which is a great source of energy, whether it is served as breakfast or afternoon tea, it will bring you a full sense of happiness!