Chinese New Year Nian Gao

Nian gao (年糕), Chinese New Year rice cake, is one of the foods that Chinese will make during lunar new year. Learn how to make nian gao from scratch. This tasty, simple and easy instant pot Chinese New Year cake nian gao recipe only takes around 35 minutes!

Wanna celebrate Chinese New Year? Check out this authentic turnip cake, braised Chinese mushrooms, pan fried dumplings and boiled dumplings recipes too!

What is Chinese New Year nian gao (年糕)?

Nian gao is a traditional Chinese New year cake that is made from glutinous rice flour. Besides, different areas have different types of New Year cake.

Chinese New Year sweet cakes are popular in the southern part of China and usually add brown sugar. Hence, it has a distinct dark yellowish color. Traditionally, the paste is poured into a cake pan and steamed until it solidifies. 

Why do people eat nian gao (年糕) during lunar new year?

It is a tradition and symbolism of good luck to eat nian gao during Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year. This is because in Chinese nian gao is identical in sound to "year" and "tall" which means eating nian gao is a symbol of getting taller or higher every year.

What does Chinese new year rice cake taste like?

Fresh steamed Chinese New Year sweet rice cake is sweet, sticky and chewy. Most of the time people will let it cool down and slice them into thicker pieces before serving. On the other hand, some like to pan fried nian gao because outside is a little crispy.

What are the ingredients for Chinese new year cake nian gao?

The main ingredients are glutinous rice flour, wheat starch, water and brown sugar. In this nian gao recipe, I like to add coconut milk which gives more flavor to the nian gao.

As I remembered, my uncles and aunts made sweet nian gao for Chinese New Year, they used hands to mix the glutinous rice flour and sugar into a paste like texture and pour them into a container with banana leaves, then steamed them.

However, in this recipe I used an instant pot pressure cooker to make traditional Chinese New Year cake. Not only is it easier, but also is a time saver. If you steam them over the stove normally takes 1-1.5 hours depending on how deep the pan you use.

Cooking tips for how to make instant pot Chinese New Year nian gao:

• In a mixing bowl, mix the ingredients very well.
• Remember to grease a cake pan
• Pour the mixture into a cake pan and remove excess bubbles
• Cover the flour mixture with a foil and and cook it at high pressure for 30 minutes and naturally release the pressure.
• Before covering the foil try to mix the mixture again
• Fresh steamed Chinese new year sweet rice cake is sticky and chewy, so let it cool down before slicing it. The best is to refrigerate them before slicing it and pan-frying them.

FAQs:

What brand of coconut milk do you use?

I use Aroy-D coconut milk because it’s creamier and thicker. 

Which glutinous rice flour do you use?

I use this green bag of glutinous rice flour. 

What is dried jujube?

It is a Chinese date that is used in a lot of Chinese traditional herb tea, soup and cooking.

How long can I keep Chinese New Year rice cake?

It can be refrigerated for 3-5 days. Or, freeze them for a month.

How do you warm up a lunar new year cake?

If it is from the refrigerator, I normally will slice them and pan fry them. Or, steam them for 5-10 mins. Some people like to dip the nian gao with eggs and pan fry them. 

Instructions for how to make instant pot Chinese New Year nian gao:

1. In a mixing bowl, add 1.5 cups of brown sugar and ¼ cup of wheat starch.

2. Then, add 1&¼ cups of glutinous rice flour, ½ cup of coconut milk and 1 cup of water.

3. Mix it very well.

4. Next, spray some oil and use a brush to brush the oil evenly around the cake pan.

5. After that, pour the mixture over the greased cake pan (my cake pan is about 6.5 inches wide) and use a spoon or strainer to remove excess bubbles. 

6. Pour a cup of water into an instant pot pressure cooker and add a rack.

7. Cover the flour mixture with a foil. (Before covering the foil try to mix the mixture again). 

8. After that, put the flour mixture into the instant pot, close the lid and vent. Push the manual button, adjust the time for 30 minutes at high pressure and naturally release the pressure.

9. Put a plate on top of the cooked nian gao. Then, flip it and decorate with a dried jujube in the middle of the cake.

Pan Fry:

10. You can wait until it's cool down then slice it.

11. However, it is easier to slice it after refrigerating the Chinese New Year sweet rice cake.

12. After refrigerating the nian gao, add some oil into a non-stick pan. Then, pan fry both sides for about 1-2 minutes at medium fire. (Some people like to dip the nian gao with eggs and pan fry them.)

Enjoy this simple instant pot Chinese New Year cake nian gao recipe! Also, check out these congee with pork & century egg, black glutinous rice dessert and white cut chicken instant pot recipes.

You May Also Like These Instant Pot Recipes:

• PHO VIETNAMESE NOODLE SOUP
• SIMPLE BEEF STEW
• PERFECT HARD BOILED EGGS 
• BAKED PORK CHOPS AND RICE –HONG KONG STYLE (港式豬扒焗飯)

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