Pastry Rice Cakes (酥皮年糕）

Rice cakes or Nian Gao are a symbol of "prosperity", so during the Lunar New Year. Every household will buy or make rice cakes during the Lunar New Year in the hopes of a "higher year," which represents greater success and fortune in the upcoming year.

Instead of frying the Nian Gao” with batter, I wrap it with a piece of puff pastry and bake in the oven, in this way, I can taste a gluey Nian Gao with crispy pastry.

I made this last year, and my kids requested to make this again for this year. It is not a recipe, it is merely a method of serving Nian Gao, or Chinese rice cake. Everyone will be thrilled by this fantastic twist and surprise to a classic.

In I'm using store bought puff pastries. Some come in 8" or 4" square sizes, while others come in a rolled-up sheet. If you're using the rolled-up sheet, as I did, you'll need to roll them out and cut them to the appropriate size. Simply place the Nian Gao onto a piece of puff pastry and seal it. That’s it!

INGREDIENTS

1 rolled-up sheet of puff pastry

1 rice cake or Nian Gao

Egg glaze

Some black sesame seeds

METHOD

1. Roll out the pastry sheet and cut into 4” square size.

2. Cut the Nian Gao into 1 ½’ (width) x ¾” (thick) X 1 ½” size or your desire sizes.

3. Place the Nian Gao onto the center piece of 4” square sheet puff pastry. Fold and press the tines of the fork on both side edges.

4. Place the puff pastry Nian Gao on the baking sheet with seal side down.

7. Score the surface a few times.

8. Brush with egg yolk and sprinkle with some black sesame seeds.

9. Preheat the oven and bake at 230℃ for 20 minutes.

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