Cantonese · snack
Turnip Cake
萝卜糕 · Luóbo Gāo
Steamed and pan-fried cakes of rice flour, grated radish and dried shrimp — a dim sum staple served golden and crisp.
Turnip cake (lo bak go in Cantonese) is a dim sum staple and a Chinese New Year food across Guangdong and Hong Kong. Grated white radish (luóbo) is squeezed of its liquid then combined with rice flour, dried shrimp, dried scallop and Chinese sausage, seasoned with white pepper, soy and sesame oil, then steamed in a rectangular mould until firm. At dim sum restaurants the set cakes are sliced and pan-fried in a lightly oiled pan until golden and slightly crisp on the exterior while remaining soft and custardy inside. The grated radish gives the cake a slight sweetness and a faint fibrous texture. Served with chilli sauce or hoisin on the side. A plain vegetarian version without dried shrimp or sausage is made for those observing Buddhist dietary rules. At home it is most commonly made around Lunar New Year as the character for radish (luóbo) sounds like good fortune in Cantonese.
Where to try
Hong Kong and Guangdong: any dim sum restaurant serves this. Available steamed plain or pan-fried depending on the establishment. Also sold as a New Year food at Cantonese market stalls.
Dietary notes
Rice flour, radish, dried shrimp, sausage (in standard version). Contains shellfish and pork. Vegetarian versions available.
Cities to try Turnip Cake
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