Dim sum is arguably one of the most popular Chinese cuisine variants the world knows. However, there are only a few dishes at dim sums that have found their way into food blogs and menus.
Few might know that radish cake is one of the best variants to have at a dim sum. Crispy and crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside, radish cakes make for the perfect meal. Serve these as starters, mains, or even appetizers for your next party.
Radish cake is arguably the best kind of dim sum to have. Popularly known as ‘turnip cake’ (lo bak gou), this dish is prepared using daikon radish, shallots, and mushrooms.
Usually consumed as a steamed savory cake, radish cakes are also stir-fried and served with various spicy mains at popular Chinese eateries. Apart from being flavorful, the dish also holds many health benefits, courtesy of the daikon.
While one can whip out a quick savory cake mix, preparing an authentic radish cake takes some time and patience. The recipe is quite simple to follow but needs several ingredients that lend the flavorful umami aroma. Turnip or radish cake usually uses the daikon radish variety, but you choose any other radish type you may like. This simple recipe can also work for any other vegetable. For instance, radish and carrot almost share the same consistency. A similar version of carrot cake tastes equally delicious.
Moreover, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian versions of the recipe are available. While the non-vegetarian version is most popular and preferred, vegetarians can omit the meat and follow the recipe.
Kindly note that this is a seafood-meat based savory radish cake recipe.
INGREDIENTS
Stir Fry
- 600g daikon radish
- 40g shrimps
- 30g shiitake mushrooms
- 20g green bell pepper
- 20g red bell pepper
- 20g yellow bell pepper
- 20g orange bell pepper
- 50g beef sausage
Batter
- 1/2 cup rice flour
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 cup of water
- 4 tsp of sesame oil
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Preparing the Daikon:
Start by cleaning the daikon thoroughly. Trim the top and bottom of the radish (1 inch) and discard it. Wash it under running water and wipe it with a clean cloth. Peel the radish and discard the skin.
Take a box grater, larger side, hold the daikon at a 45-degree angle, and start grating. Do not forget to place the grater over a large bowl to retain all the radish juices. The liquid contains several beneficial nutrients.
Preparing The Seafood:
This recipe contains prawns. De-shell and devein mid-sized prawns and set them aside. You can also choose lobster or any other shellfish of your choice.
Preparing The Vegetables:
Mushrooms
Soak shiitake mushrooms for an hour or until they have gained enough moisture. Discard the water and clean it carefully. Chop them finely and set them aside.
Onions
Finely chop a medium-sized red onion and set it aside.
Bell-Peppers (All or of choice)
The key reason to add bell peppers to the dish is to give it a beautiful hue. The peppery sweetness of the capsicum brings out potent flavors in the cake.
Take half a green/yellow/red/orange bell pepper and chop it finely. Set aside for use.
Preparing The Meat (Optional)
Adding meat is optional. If you don’t wish to mix meat with a seafood, you can skip this step. If you are a meat lover, you can skip the seafood.
Take sausages of your choice (we recommend beef).
Chop them finely and set them aside.
Method
Stir Fry
Place a wok on the burner and allow it to heat up.
- Add oil and immediately add finely chopped ginger and garlic.
- Add the vegetables and stir constantly.
- Add the prawns.
- Finally, add the sausages and season with salt and pepper.
- The oil releasing from the fat of the sausage will add more flavor to the dish.
- Remove the stir fry to a plate and set it to rest.
Cooking the Daikon
Add the grated daikon into a pan and cook on a low flame until the water dries out (this step is crucial).
Ensure that the mixture is moist but does not have any water; the cake will be too wet otherwise.
The process should take about 10 minutes.
The daikon will be translucent by this time.
Add the stir fry into the pan and mix with the radish.
The Batter
Rice flour is the primary ingredient for the radish cake batter. It gives the cake its structure. Wheat, potato, or tapioca starch add to the cake’s binding and are often a part of the recipe. We recommend adding cornstarch to the mix. The cornstarch keeps the cake soft. Use cornstarch especially, if you wish to pan fry the cake later. It helps crisp up the cake pieces.
For the batter:
- Take rice flour and cornflour in equal parts.
- Season the flour mix with salt, pepper, garlic powder, sugar, and onion powder.
- Gradually add cold water and stir continuously.
- The batter must be smooth and lump-free.
- It should have a pouring consistency.
The cake mix:
Do not mix the stir fry into the batter if it is hot or warm. It will begin to cook the batter and turn it into a sticky mess.
Once cooled down, add the stir fry into the batter.
Fold and mix gently. Do not over mix.
Traditional Version
Brush the surface of a cake pan with some oil
Pour the batter and level the top.
Place a steaming rack in the center of a wok.
Pour enough water in the wok till it reaches the top of the rack.
Remove the rack and bring the water to a boil.
Place the rack back into the wok and set the tin on it.
Steam the cake for 30 minutes on medium flame.
Insert a skewer in the center of the cake. If the skewer comes out clean, the radish cake is ready.
The Cheat Version
For those who lack the patience to slow-cook the cake in a wok, here is a method that will help you cook the cake faster.
- Brush oil on the surface of a microwave-safe tin.
- Pour the mixture and cover it with aluminum foil.
- Place the tin in the microwave and cook it on high for 8 minutes.
Your radish cake is ready.
For Crispy Pan Fried Cake
- Cool the cake once cooked.
- It is most advisable to refrigerate it for as long as possible (preferably overnight).
- Unmold the cake and cut it into squares.
- Pour some oil over a hot pan and add the cake pieces.
- Cook on both sides until brown and crispy.
- Garnish the radish cake pieces with spring onion greens and serve immediately.
The radish cake goes well with a spicy sauce or a barbeque beef/pork bun.
Before you Indulge
Radish cake tastes great by itself, but the flavor grows two-fold when hot, spicy gravies, sauces, and meat curries. Remember to serve these hot and right off the pan. Do not wait; the cake tends to soften soon. Happy eating!
