jessiefoodinthekitchen

  If you’ve ever wandered into a Chinese dim sum restaurant or that beloved hawker stall for breakfast, you mostly come across Lo Bak Go, also known as turnip cake. Despite its name, this dish isn’t sweet and isn’t made from Western turnips. The main ingredient is crisp, juicy daikon (white radish), paired with rice flour and rich umami flavors. This classic Cantonese recipe is traditionally steamed into a silky-soft cake, then sliced and enjoyed either warm, straight from the steamer, or pan-fried until golden and crisp. What Makes Turnip Cake Special? Turnip cake has a comforting balance of textures. Tender yet firm, with savory bursts from Chinese sausage, dried shrimp, and shiitake mushrooms folded into the batter. It’s a festival favorite, a breakfast go-to, and a dim sum staple around the world. Type Of Steaming Pan To Use I am using a 10” x 10” square pan because I will always line with aluminum foil particular on Chinese steamed dessert, to make sure the radish ca...

  There are certain dishes that don’t need complicated ingredients to feel special. For me, Steamed Cured Meat Rice ( 腊味蒸饭 ) is one of them. Just rice, a few slices of Chinese cured meats, and simple seasoning, yet once it starts steaming, the whole kitchen fills with that unmistakable fragrance. The sweet-savory aroma from the lap cheong slowly melts into the rice, creating a dish that feels nostalgic, comforting, and deeply satisfying. This is my easier home-style version. No clay pot needed, no complicated steps, just simple steaming, and you’ll still get beautifully infused, flavorful rice. What Is Cured Meat Rice? Cured meat rice is a traditional Cantonese dish commonly enjoyed during cooler months and festive seasons. The preserved meats, usually lap cheong (Chinese sausage), cured pork belly, or liver sausage will release their oils while steaming, naturally seasoning the rice underneath. Why I Love Making This Dish It’s one of those meals that feels festive but is actually ...

This humble little steamed sponge cake ( 反斗马来 盏 Fan Dou Ma La Zhan) may look simple. But it’s Light, airy and slightly sweet, it’s the kind of treat that pairs perfectly with a cup of hot tea. 反斗马来 盏 Fan Dou Ma La Zhan get its name from its unique process from steaming in a reversed mold. The texture is similar to Malay cake. It’s incredibly soft and bouncy, made from flour, eggs, sugar, milk powder, and other ingredients. I know that many of you will be curious about how and why this dessert got its name. Here’s the analysis for it. a) 反斗 (Fan Dou) refers to after the cake is steamed, the mold needs to be turned upside down (the workpiece) in order to unmold and take out the cake, hence the name " 反斗 ". b) 马来 (Ma La) refers to the texture, which is derived from Cantonese steamed cakes Ma Lai Gou. c) 盏 (Zhan) refers to a small cup or mold for holding the batter What I love most about 反斗马来盏 is its fragrance. Made with eggs, sugar and milk powder, the aroma fi...

Every Lunar New Year, we always make sure Nian Gao ( 年糕 ) graces our table. Not just because it ’ s delicious, but because it symbolizes rising prosperity and good fortune for the year ahead. Traditionally, we steam it and enjoy it in many ways.   Pan-fried with egg, deep-fried with batter, or simply sliced and eaten warm. This year, I decided to give our family favorite a little twist. Instead of frying or pan-frying, I used my sister-in-law’s homemade rice cake. Extra chewy and full of sweet, nostalgic flavor and wrapped it with puff pastry before baking it in the oven. What came out of the oven was pure comfort: golden, buttery flaky pastry on the outside… and soft, sticky, chewy Nian Gao in the center. A beautiful contrast in textures that turned a classic treat into something new. Using puff pastry not only adds a crispy, flaky layer but also elevates the humble rice cake into a dessert-like snack that even kids can’t resist. The sugar inside the Nian Gao melts slightly ...

  Chinese New Year baking is always extra special in my kitchen. Besides the usual pineapple tarts and butter cookies, I love adding something that looks elegant and tastes irresistible. This Florence Almond Cookie is slightly different from the classic thin Florentine. It has a rich buttery shortbread base at the bottom, topped with crunchy caramelized almond flakes. The combination of crisp shortbread and crunchy nutty topping is simply too good to resist. It looks delicate and bakery-style, but it’s actually quite manageable to make at home. I love this version of cookies. The bottom layer is rich, buttery, and slightly crumbly, like a classic melt-in-the-mouth shortbread. The top layer is crunchy, nutty, and lightly caramelized with a beautiful golden color. The cornflakes add an extra crisp texture that makes every bite interesting and addictive. You get two textures in one bite. Soft, buttery base and crisp, caramelized topping. It’s sweet, but not overly heavy. Perfect...

  If you’ve ever visited Hong Kong, chances are you’ve seen (or queued for) the famous Jenny Bakery flower butter cookies. Packed in iconic red tins and piped into delicate swirls, these cookies are known for one thing: an unbelievably buttery, melt ‑ in ‑ the ‑ mouth texture. They ’ re rich without being greasy, crumbly yet tender, and dangerously addictive. Today, I’m sharing a homemade version inspired by the popular Hong Kong Jenny flower cookies, made in three classic flavors: - Original, green tea and chocolate. Perfect for festive gifting, afternoon tea, or simply satisfying cookie craving. What Makes Jenny Flower Cookies So Special? These cookies are not your average butter cookies. A few things set them apart: -High butter ratio → ultra ‑ rich aroma and flavor -No water or milk → keeps the texture short and crumbly -Piped flower shape → beautiful and classic -Melt ‑ in ‑ the ‑ mouth finish → the signature trait everyone loves Because the dough is quite so...

  There’s something deeply comforting about a pot or a wok of lamb slowly braising on the stove, filling the kitchen with warm, aromatic spices. This Chinese-style braised lamb shoulder is rich, fragrant, and tender, infused with classic spices like star anise, cinnamon stick, and bay leaves. It’s a dish that feels special yet is surprisingly straightforward to prepare, perfect for family meals or a cozy weekend dinner. Why I love This Recipe -Deep, warming flavors from traditional Chinese spices -Lamb shoulder becomes meltingly tender after slow braising -Minimal prep, mostly hands-off cooking time -Perfect to pair with steamed rice, noodles, or mantou (Chinese steamed buns) I am using Zhu Hou Paste to my braised lamb. It helps to bring depth, warmth and balance to this Chinese-style braised lamb, acting as the backbone of the sauce rather than just a seasoning. Zhu Hou paste is made from fermented soybeans, garlic, and spices, so when added to lamb, it creates a ric...