Easy step by step video to show you how to make Chinese New Year Cake / Neen Go 年糕 in your Instant Pot
It’s almost that time of year again, Chinese New Year. That means, lots of home cooked foods and of course, eating. What better way to start off the New Year with a Chinese New Year Cake 年糕! It’s sticky, but not too sticky. It’s sweet, but not too sweet. And it’s the perfect texture. I like to garnish with sesame, nuts, or red dates. What also tastes really delicious is Chinese New Year Cake sliced up, dipped in egg and pan-fried. Soft, warm and crispy at the same time. Yum!
Chinese New Year Cake / Neen Go 年糕
Traditional Steamed Chinese New Year Cake / Neen Go 年糕. Make it with coconut milk for extra flavour. Eat it steamed as is or pan fried.
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups Glutinous Rice Flour (sweet rice flour)
- ½ cup Wheat Starch
- ¾ cups Brown Sugar
- ¼ cups White Sugar
- ¾ cups Water (you can substitute with coconut milk)
Instructions
- Combine dry ingredients1.5 cups Glutinous Rice Flour, 3/4 cups Brown Sugar, 1/4 cups White Sugar, 1/2 cup Wheat Starch
- Add water/coconut milk to dry ingredients and mix.3/4 cups Water
- Pour batter into foil tray (spray/thinly coat pan with oil first).
- Open Instant Pot. Place trivet and 2 cups of water, then tray of batter.
- Close instant Pot. Select Steam for 30 minutes
- When done, quick release.
Video
Notes
- Fits 1 Round Pan 6.5"-7" diameter and 2" high. Or you can use 2 Rectangle Pans 4"x6" and 2" high.
- If you batter is dry, keep mixing and it will come together. If you are still struggling to get the batter into a slime like consistency, add a little bit of water slowly but no more than an extra 1/4 cup.
- To cut, oil the knife first so the Chinese New Year Cake Neen Go 年糕 doesn't stick.
- To pan fry, lightly scramble an egg, then dip slices of Chinese New Year Cake / Neen Go 年糕. Add a bit of oil, then your dipped slices of cake. You can pan fry from your stove top or use the saute button from the Instant Pot.
- If steaming from stove top, make sure the water is boiling, then steam on high for 45 minutes.
Do you have the measurements in grams please? I find it difficult to get exact measurements from cups, as i never know what measurements they are with the different cup sizes. I am cant wait to try your recipes especially this for the new year.
Hi Jenny,
You will need the following amounts:
200g glutinous rice flour
65g wheat starch
180g brown sugar
60g white sugar
180g water
What size is the foil tray? Is it round one or rectangle?
Hi Laurie, It’s a rectangle size 4″x6″ and just over 2″ high.
Mine came out wet on top with a wavy surface. Do you know what I did wrong? Thanks!
Hi Gail,
Sounds like it was steamed for too long. Try reducing the steam time to 25 minutes and see if that improves.
Also, it could be because your pan is different size (if the batter is spread out more in the pan, it would need a bit less time to cook).
What can we use to substitute wheat starch? Or can we omit wheat starch and increase the amount of rice flour instead? Thanks,
Hi Helen. You can just try substituting the wheat starch with more rice flour. keep in mind the texture will change a bit due to the substitution. Happy cooking 🙂
What if i dont have a steam function? Can we use manual instead?
Absolutely!
When cooked when do you unmold the cake?
Hi Anne, It’s easiest to take the cake out once it has cooled down.