Nian Gao/ Kuih Bakul

First of all ,I would like to wish all my dear readers,friends and family a "Happy Chinese New Year" or "Gong Xi Fah Zai" and Happy Valentine Day!! May this coming Tiger year bring more luck and more $$$ to you!! Don't forget to get and gave extra love during this coming VD!! Well, actually I don't intend to make nian gao for this CNY but I suddenly remember that I have to visit friends during this festival,so nian gao is a good gift to give ,right? Yesterday was my 2nd attempt making nian gao but this time I wonder why the surface is not smooth,maybe it's the heat or the container or the banana leave problem? I remember last year I didn't line banana leave over the pan and the surface is better than this time..Well what is the reason? hmmm... Anyway...the nian gao still taste good and texture is not bad at all..Check out my 1st attempt nian gao HERE!!

Ingredients:

600 gm sugar
600 ml water
600 gm glutinous rice flour (sifted)
3 tbsp cooking oil

Method:

1: Dissolve 300 gm sugar in a dry pot over low heat till it caramelizes.( Do not stir).Add 300 ml of water and mix well.
2: Add the remaining sugar into the mixture,stir constantly till the sugar dissolves.Set aside to cool completely. Prepare large pot or steamer with water for steaming at high heat.Steam banana leave to get softer body, cut or trim banana leaves before place banana leave as liner over aluminum pan .
3:Combine glutinous rice flour and the remaining water.Add caramel on glutinous rice flour mixture together in a large bowl to incorporate until smooth.Whisk the mixture if possible.If it's too dry add in extra 50 ml water.Sieve the mixture ,to remove lump and bubble build up.
4: Pour batter into aluminum pan to 3/4 full.( Do not fill to the rim as the batter might overflow when steaming)
5:Place aluminium pan in the steamer when water has boiled.Steam over high heat for 30 minutes .Then reduce heat to medium and steam for another 30 minutes. Increase time for steaming if making bigger cake.
6:Remove cooked nian gao from steamer and let it's cool down completely before remove banana leaves from the nian gao.

in steamer