How to Make Nian Gao for Lunar New Year

Red Bean Nian Gao

One of the most popular Lunar New Year desserts in Chinese and Taiwanese cooking is sweet nian gao (甜年糕). The two most popular nian giao are red bean sweet nian gao and brown sugar nian gao.

Here, we are going to teach you one of the methods used in the East to cook sweet nian gao, which is to wrap the nian gao in dumpling pastry, spring roll pastry or wonton pastry and deep fry it. This will make the sweet nian gao soft, almost melting cheese like in the middle but crispy and crunchy on the outside.

There are other methods you can use which include coating the sweet nian gao with batter and pan-frying until the nian gao softens or you can pan fry the nian gao on its own. Wrapping them in dumpling pastry is our favorite method for preparing this dessert, partially because it looks nice, and it’s a great treat that you can give to your friends or family during the Lunar New Year period.

Another popular dessert during the Lunar New Year is turnip cake.

How to Make Red Bean Nian Gago

In order to make red bean nian go you need to prepare sweet red beans first. 

Ingredients for Sweet Red Bean

• 400 g red beans (soak in water for 2 to 3 hours)
• 400 g brown sugar (demerara sugar)
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• Oil, for deep-frying

Procedure for Sweet Red Bean

1. Drain the red beans and put them into a saucepan. Add 3 cups of water into the saucepan and bring to a boil. Once it has reached boiling, reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour, until the red beans are soft enough that you can squash them with your fingers. Keep stirring the red beans to prevent them from burning. Add more water to the saucepan if necessary.
2. Mix sugar and salt with the red beans while they are still hot and leave to cool completely.

Ingredients for Red Bean Nian Gao

• 450 g glutinous rice flour
• 400 g sweet red beans
• 420 ml water
• 400 g brown sugar
• Oil, for deep-frying

Procedure for Red Bean Nian Gao:

1. Boil water and add brown sugar. Stir until the sugar has completely dissolved and leave to cool down.
2. Mix glutinous rice flour with step 1 and make sure there are no lumps in the mixture.
3. Mix sweet red beans into the mixture.
4. Brush a layer of oil into tin foil boxes or other rectangular mold.
5. Use a bamboo steamer to steam the nian gao. Wait for the water to boil before you steam the nian gao and if you need to top up the water, use only hot water.
6. When the nian gao is completely cool, remove from the mold. Cut your rice cake into 1-inch rectangles and fold them into either spring roll wrappers or wonton wrappers. Heat the oil to 375F and deep fry them until the pastries have turned a golden brown color.

Store the nian gao in the fridge for 5 days once cooled, or store in the freezer for up to 1 month. Remember to use cling film to wrap them individually before you put them into the fridge or freezer to prevent the surface of the nian gao from drying out.

Preparing the Dumpling Pastry

Cut the nian gao into 1-inch long rectangles. 

Put the Nian Gao Onto the Bottom of the Dumpling Pastry

Place the nian gao onto the dumpling pastry near the end that close to you. 

Begin Folding the Pastry

Start folding the pastry as follows.

Roll the Pastry Towards the Other End

Roll the pastry towards the other end.

Use a Bit of Water to Help the Pastry Stick Together

Use a bit of water to help the pastry stick together so the nian gao won’t fall out when you fry it.

Finished Product Before Frying

Follow this method to wrap and fry the remainder of the rice cake.