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Turnip Cake
5 from 12 votes

Turnip Cake

Turnip Cake is a savory dish made from shredded daikon radish mixed with rice flour, dried shrimp, dried scallops, and Chinese sausage. The mixture is steamed until set then pan-fried, offering a dense, slightly chewy texture with umami-rich flavors from seafood and sausage. It is usually sliced and consumed as a snack or part of a meal.

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
Total Time
40 mins
Servings: 12
Calories: 95 kcal
Course: Side Dish, Breakfast, Appetizer
Cuisine: Asian, Chinese

Ingredients

  • 1 radish Around 2 pounds, 3 cups shredded radish 1 lb & 10.8 oz, daikon variety
  • 1 cup rice flour (5.1 oz or 145 g)
  • ⅓ cup dried shrimp 1 oz or 27 g, small
  • ⅓ cup scallop 1.8 oz or 50 g, dried
  • 1 piece Chinese sausage (1.9 oz)
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil (Add to the shredded radish)
  • 1 tick green onion (For topping and decoration optional)
  • ½ tablespoon vegetable oil (For pan fry lo bak go)

Instructions

Instant Pot Method:
    Cup of Yum
  1. Wash and soak ⅓ cup of dried small shrimp (1 oz or 27 g) for 5-10 minutes.
  2. Wash and soak ⅓ cup of dried scallops (1.8 oz or 50 g) for 5-10 minutes.
  3. Cut and diced 1 piece of Chinese sausage (1.9 oz).
  4. While waiting, wash and peel 1 medium sized radish/ white carrot (around 2 pounds, the one I picked was 2 lbs & 8.7 oz). Then, shred it, it's around 3 cups shredded radish (1 lb & 10.8 oz or 760 g). After that, add ¼ teaspoon of salt and 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil. Then, wait for 15-20 minutes and let radish juice come out.
  5. After that, add 1 cup of rice flour (5.1 oz or 145 g) and mix it well.
  6. Next, add half of dried shrimp, scallops and Chinese sausage from step 1-3. Mix it well. Also, remember to save some for the topping.
  7. Pour a cup of water into an instant pot and add a rack.
  8. After that, pour the mixture into a glass container and top with the rest of the dried shrimp, scallops and Chinese sausage.
  9. Put the mixture into an instant pot, cover the lid and close the vent. Next, press the manual button to adjust time for 25 minutes at high pressure and natural release.
  10.  After the turnip cake cools down, slice it into pieces.
  11. Pour ½ tablespoons of vegetable oil into a non-stick pan, turn on medium fire to pan fry both sides until it's a little golden brown.
Stove Top Method:
  1. Wash and soak ⅓ cup of dried small shrimp (1 oz or 27 g) for 5-10 minutes.
  2. Wash and soak ⅓ cup of dried scallops (1.8 oz or 50 g) for 5-10 minutes.
  3. Cut and dice 1 piece of Chinese sausage (1.9 oz).
  4. While waiting, wash and peel 1 medium sized radish/ white carrot (around 2 pounds, the one I picked was 2 lbs & 8.7 oz). Then, shred it, it's around 3 cups shredded radish (1 lb & 10.8 oz or 760 g). After that, add ¼ teaspoon of salt and 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil. Then, wait for 15-20 minutes and let radish juice come out.
  5. After that, add 1 cup of rice flour (5.1 oz or 145 g) and mix it well.
  6. Next, add half of dried shrimp, scallops and Chinese sausage from step 1-3. Mix it well. Also, remember to save some for the topping.
  7. Pour 8 cups of water into a steamer. Turn on the fire to medium high until the water is boiling.
  8. After that, pour the mixture into a glass container and top with the rest of the dried shrimp, scallops and Chinese sausage.
  9. When the water is boiling, put the mixture into a steamer, cover the lid, turn the fire to medium small and steam it for 45 minutes. (Add more water into the steamer if needed.)
  10. After the turnip cake cools down, slice it into pieces.
  11. Pour ½ tablespoons of vegetable oil into a non-stick pan, turn on medium fire to pan fry both sides until it's a little golden brown.

Notes

  • Select fresh daikon radish with firm, smooth skin and vibrant leaves for best results.
  • Shred the radish finely to ease mixing and uniform texture; some prefer mixing fine strands with small chunks.
  • Salt the shredded radish and let it rest for 15-20 minutes to release moisture before adding rice flour.
  • Maintain a roughly 1:3 ratio of rice flour to shredded radish (including liquid) for proper consistency.
  • Steam the mixture for 25 minutes in an Instant Pot or about 45 minutes by stovetop steam; cool before slicing.
  • Pan-fry slices with a little oil for a crispy exterior and added flavor.

Nutrition Information

Calories 95kcal (5%) Carbohydrates 11g (4%) Protein 7g (14%) Fat 3g (5%) Saturated Fat 2g (10%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g (6%) Monounsaturated Fat 1g (5%) Trans Fat 1g (50%) Cholesterol 78mg (26%) Sodium 316mg (13%) Potassium 28mg (1%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 1g (2%) Vitamin A 2IU (0%) Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Calcium 28mg (3%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 12 Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 95

% Daily Value*

Calories 95kcal 5%
Carbohydrates 11g 4%
Protein 7g 14%
Fat 3g 5%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 1g 5%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 78mg 26%
Sodium 316mg 13%
Potassium 28mg 1%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 1g 2%
Vitamin A 2IU 0%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 28mg 3%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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