Lo Bak Go (Hong Kong Pan-Fried Turnip Cake)
Local name: 蘿蔔糕
In short: A steamed cake of grated daikon, rice flour, Chinese sausage and dried shrimp, sliced and pan-fried until crisp and golden outside and soft inside. It takes about 1 h 55 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 40 min
- Cook
- 1 h 15 min
- Resting
- 3 h
- Total
- 1 h 55 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 280 kcal
Lo bak go is a dim sum favorite and a Lunar New Year tradition in Cantonese homes. Grated daikon is cooked with Chinese sausage, dried shrimp and mushrooms, bound with rice flour into a thick batter and steamed into a firm cake. Chilled and sliced, it is pan-fried until the outside crisps and the center stays soft. Serve with oyster sauce and chili sauce.
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a wok over medium heat. Cook the sausage, dried shrimp, mushrooms and shallots for 3 minutes, until fragrant.
- Add the daikon and 100 ml (1/3 cup) of water. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring, until the daikon turns soft and translucent. Season with the salt, sugar and pepper.
- Whisk the rice flour and cornstarch with the remaining 300 ml (1 1/4 cups) of water until smooth. Pour it into the wok and stir over low heat for 1 to 2 minutes, until it thickens to a heavy paste. Stir in the sesame oil and spring onions.
- Scrape the mixture into an oiled 20 cm (8 in) square pan lined with parchment. Press it level with a wet spatula.
- Steam over boiling water for 50 minutes, until a skewer comes out clean. Cool completely, then chill for at least 2 hours so it firms up.
- Turn out the cake and cut it into slices about 2 cm (3/4 in) thick.
- Heat the frying oil in a non-stick pan over medium heat. Fry the slices for 3 to 4 minutes per side, until deep golden and crisp. Serve hot with oyster sauce and chili sauce.
Tips
- Squeeze the grated daikon lightly if it is very watery, but keep the juice. It flavors the cake. Rice flour must be plain, not glutinous, or the cake turns sticky.
- The cake keeps for 4 days in the fridge and slices cleanly when cold. Freeze for up to 2 months; fry from frozen on low heat.
Questions and answers
Can I make turnip cake without Chinese sausage?
Yes. Replace it with diced ham or smoked bacon. For a vegetarian version, leave out both the sausage and the dried shrimp and add more mushrooms. The flavor will be milder but still savory.
Why is my turnip cake soft and falling apart?
It was probably not chilled long enough. Let it cool completely and chill for at least 2 hours. Use a non-stick pan and let a crust form before turning.
Is turnip cake made from turnips?
No. Despite the name, it is made from daikon, a white Asian radish. In Cantonese it is called lo bak go, meaning radish cake.
How long does it take to make Lo Bak Go (Hong Kong Pan-Fried Turnip Cake)?
About 1 h 55 min in total: 40 min of preparation and 1 h 15 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Lo Bak Go (Hong Kong Pan-Fried Turnip Cake)?
About 280 kcal per serving, with 8 g of protein, 29 g of carbohydrates and 15 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 280 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 8 g |
| Carbohydrates | 29 g |
| Fat | 15 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 4 g |
| Sodium | 900 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
