jessiefoodinthekitchen

  Soft, fluffy, and gently sweet with the natural richness of pumpkin, this Pumpkin Ma Lai Gou is a comforting treat that feels both nostalgic and homely. The vibrant golden hue comes purely from the pumpkin, giving the cake a beautiful, natural colour without any artificial additions. Steamed to perfection, the texture is light yet slightly bouncy, with a moist crumb that makes every bite satisfying. This version is prepared in a lined 6-inch baking tin, giving it a neat, tall shape that is easy to slice and serve—perfect for sharing with family over tea or as a simple homemade dessert. What I love most about this cake is how the pumpkin not only adds flavour but also keeps the cake wonderfully soft even after cooling. It’s one of those recipes that feels simple, but the result is incredibly rewarding. Full written steps, tips and exact measurements are below. Keep scrolling!! INGREDIETNS 250g steamed pumpkin flesh 100ml water 150g plain flour 100g tapioca flour 60...

  As Qing Ming approaches, many Chinese families prepare food offerings to honour their ancestors. Among these, traditional steamed kuih like Hee Pan ( 喜粄 ) and Ang Ku Kueh ( 红龟粿 ) are commonly seen on the altar. In ancient times, Chinese tends to steam kuih or dessert. This is definitely due to the fact that   steaming was one of the most common cooking methods in Chinese households. This was influenced by the rice-based diet, the widespread use of bamboo steamers, and a preference for soft, moist textures over baked or dry foods. Because of this, steamed kuih gradually became more than just everyday food. They grew into meaningful offerings, deeply rooted in Chinese tradition. Today, steamed kuih are often prepared during Qing Ming not just for their taste, but for the symbolism they carry. Steamed kuih are especially meaningful because the steaming process represents rising fortune and growth. Their soft texture also carries the wish for a smooth and harmonious life. ...

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 ...

Pumpkin is a very good food material, suitable for men, women and children. Although it tastes very sweet, it does not contain high sugar content. It can even be eaten by diabetics. Pumpkin sago is a dessert that many people like because it does not harm the body. So, how to make pumpkin sago? This creamy, smooth pumpkin sweet soup is one of my favorites.   So aromatic with coconut milk.   Since the soup tends to thicken, I prefer it to serve hot rather than cold. I prefer to cook coconut milk in the soup with a little salt. Coconut milk is naturally sweet and rich. Salt helps to balance these flavors, making the soup more palatable and enjoyable. Others may prefer to drizzle some coconut milk on top before serving. The main ingredients of pumpkin and sago are pumpkin and sago. The general method of cooking sago is to boil water in a pot, pour in sago and cook on low heat for about 10-15 minutes. Turn off the heat when only a little white spot is left in the middle of the ...

Taro puff dumplings or Woo Kok ( 芋角 ) are another must-eat snack when you go to a restaurant. The outside is honeycomb-shaped, and the inside is soft and smooth. Even if you go to a restaurant to eat, not every restaurant makes them crispy. And for that reason, I decided to learn how to make this snack. Someone once told me, because of the complicated workmanship, it is difficult to make at home. She advised me not to spend effort on it. If you know me well, I always like to challenge my limits. Today, I will show you how to make them! The fillings of taro dumplings must contain pork, dried shrimps, and mushrooms! The filling can be prepared one day ahead. The dumpling skin is made of taro paste. I am using Areca taro ( 槟榔芋 ). It has a tough, brown exterior with an interior that is white/beige in color with purple flecks. The ideal taro for this recipe will be more mature and starchier. The hardest and most tiresome step of the entire process is frying Woo Kok. A crispy crust w...

These crispy crust with inside QQ chewy but not sticky. When you break it apart, it's  full of white radish stripes within, salty flavor of shrimp, it’s so delicious. Traditional savory turnip cakes or Lo Bak Gao slightly from place to region, radish and rice flour are the two main components. When making turnip cake in the old days, folks would typically grind rice pulp in a stone mill. But now it is very convenient to use store-bought rice flour to prepare it.   It is frequently steamed along with Chinese sausages (Lap Cheong), dried shrimp, mushrooms, scallops, and other ingredients. However, some people might say that turnip cake cannot be considered exquisite because the ingredients are so common, some people believe that turnip cake cannot be regarded as exquisite.   Although the recipe is straightforward. Making a delicious carrot cake, meanwhile, is not always simple if you do not grasp it properly. It will either be too soft or too hard or perhaps sticky to e...

The weather is getting hot, there is nothing that can’t be solved with a glass or a bowl of this Yang Zhi Gan Lu ( 杨枝甘露 ) 。 It’s a kind of mango pomelo sago dessert. It has a strong mango aroma, chewy sago peals and coconut milk. It’s unique with its sweet taste and great to beat the heat. The name itself seems complicated; it is actually easy to make at home. The recipe, the ingredients are straight forward. There is no fixed method of making this dessert. You can add other fruits you like to increase the flavor.   If you don’t have coconut milk, you can replace it with milk, evaporated milk, or fresh cream to make the dessert with rich flavor. I think the key point of making this dessert is the method of cooking sago. There are a few tips that I would like to share about cooking sago. First, the sago cannot be soaked or washed in advance, because sago is made of powder, soaking or washing in advance will make sago completely dissolved in water. Second, sago is not coo...

Among Nyonya pastries, red tortoise cake is a very common and popular Nyonya pastry. The red tortoise cake also names as Ang Ku Kueh. Because red tortoise cake represents blessing, honor and longevity, it is a must-have offering during worship services by the Chinese in Malaysia and Singapore, especially during the birthday of the Jade Emperor on the ninth day of the first lunar month and the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. This year is my mother-in-law’s 73rd birthday. The kitchen is where I get creative. Since some people make longevity peaches into birthday buns, I can also make birthday buns into a longevity Ang Ku Kueh peach for her birthday. For this recipe, I am making my own mung bean paste, it really paired well with this longevity peach Ang Ku Kueh. You may use other fillings like red beans paste, peanuts, custard or even salty filling with black-eyed peas or turnip This longevity Ang Ku Kueh does not need a mould. All you need is a littl...