New Year Pan Fried Turnip Cake

New Year Pan Fried Turnip Cake in USA

Origins:

New Year turnip cake is a traditional Chinese dish that has become popular in the USA due to the large Chinese immigrant communities and the increasing popularity of authentic Chinese cuisine. While it's not strictly associated with the New Year holiday, it's often served around that time due to its symbolic significance.

Appearance and Texture:

- The turnip cake is usually a golden-brown cylinder, around 4-5 inches in length and 2-3 inches in diameter.

- Its exterior is slightly crispy, while the interior is soft, fluffy, and slightly chewy.

- The turnip cake has a distinctive savory flavor with hints of turnip, garlic, ginger, and Chinese seasonings.

Ingredients:

The traditional turnip cake ingredients are:

- Shredded turnip

- Garlic

- Ginger

- Salt

- Sugar

- Shaoxing wine or rice wine

- Vegetable oil

Preparation:

The turnip cake is made by blending these ingredients together, then wrapping them in thin pastry or dough. The dough is then rolled into cylinders and deep-fried until golden brown.

Customs and Beliefs:

- The turnip symbolizes prosperity and good fortune in Chinese culture, making it a popular ingredient in New Year dishes.

- The cylindrical shape of the turnip cake symbolizes longevity and wealth.

- The golden color of the cake is associated with prosperity and fortune.

Where to find it:

New Year pan fried turnip cake is available at many Chinese restaurants in the USA, especially those with a focus on Cantonese or Northern Chinese cuisine.

Popular restaurants to try it:

- Ocean Seafood (Seafood restaurants with Cantonese dishes)

- Golden Dragon Restaurant (Classic Cantonese restaurant)

- Fung Kee Restaurant (Northern Chinese restaurant known for dumplings and turnip cake)

- Nom Wah Tea Parlor (Traditional dim sum restaurant with turnip cake dumplings)

Tips:

- Pair the turnip cake with a dipping sauce made of soy sauce, oyster sauce, and chili sauce.

- Be careful when cutting the turnip cake, as it can be a bit hard.

- Consider trying the turnip cake dumplings, which offer a similar flavor in a different format.