Description
This authentic Chinese turnip cake (lo bak go) is a savory dim sum favorite made with daikon radish, rice flour, Chinese sausage, dried shrimp, and shiitake mushrooms. Soft yet crispy when pan-fried, it’s perfect as a breakfast, snack, or side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 large daikon radish (about 2 lbs), peeled and shredded
- 1 1/2 cups rice flour
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1 cup water
- 2 Chinese sausages, finely diced
- 3 dried shiitake mushrooms, rehydrated and chopped
- 2 tbsp dried shrimp, soaked and chopped
- 2 scallions, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp white pepper
- 1/2 tsp sugar
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp oyster sauce
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Ingredients
- Peel and shred the daikon radish. Place in a pot with 1/2 cup of water.
- Cook over medium heat until softened (about 10 minutes). Drain and reserve excess liquid.
Step 2: Cook the Flavoring Ingredients
- Heat oil in a pan over medium heat. Add Chinese sausage and cook until slightly crisp.
- Add dried shrimp, mushrooms, garlic, and scallions. Stir-fry for 1–2 minutes.
- Stir in soy sauce, oyster sauce, salt, white pepper, and sugar. Remove from heat.
Step 3: Mix the Batter
- In a bowl, mix rice flour and cornstarch.
- Gradually add the reserved daikon cooking liquid and 1/2 cup of water, stirring until smooth.
- Mix in the cooked daikon and the stir-fried ingredients.
Step 4: Steam the Cake
- Pour the mixture into a greased 8-inch round or square pan.
- Steam over medium-high heat for 50–60 minutes, or until firm.
- Allow the cake to cool completely before slicing.
Step 5: Pan-Fry and Serve
- Cut the turnip cake into slices.
- Heat a pan with a little oil and fry each slice until golden brown on both sides.
- Serve with soy sauce, hoisin sauce, or chili sauce.
Notes
- Vegetarian: Omit Chinese sausage and shrimp, replace with more mushrooms or tofu.
- Spicy: Add a teaspoon of chili flakes or serve with a spicy dipping sauce.
- Extra Savory: Include dried scallops or minced pork for added depth.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dim Sum, Side Dish, Snack
- Method: steaming, pan frying
- Cuisine: chinese
Keywords: turnip cake, lo bak go, Chinese radish cake, dim sum recipe, savory rice cake