serves
4
prep
20 minutes
cook
1:30 hour
difficulty
Easy
serves
4
people
preparation
20
minutes
cooking
1:30
hour
difficulty
Easy
level
"There are just so many surprises in this inspired street food dish from Singapore. It feels like a wicked carbohydrate hit and yet it’s made with blameless daikon radish which is grated and steamed and then cubed to be tossed in a wok with some delicious drizzles of sauces and easy bits and pieces to create a deeply satisfying snack that would happily work well with a cold beer. If you love the complexity and depth of Singaporean and Malaysian cuisine, this dish, also known as fried carrot cake or fried radish cake is incredible - and shared by my dear friend Helina Lee, a fabulous home cook from a huge Singaporean family who settled in Australia many years ago." Maeve O'Meara,
Ingredients
- 60 ml (¼ cup) vegetable oil
- 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp preserved chopped radish (chye poh), washed and rinsed
- chilli paste, to taste (optional)
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 tbsp caramel black sauce (karamel masakan)
- pinch freshly ground white pepper
Radish cake
- 500 g white radish, peeled
- 200 g rice flour
- 2 tsp sugar
- ¼ tsp salt
- 300 ml vegetable stock
To serve
- thinly sliced spring onion, thinly sliced red chilli and fried shallots
Chilling time: overnight
Instructions
For the radish cake, grate the radish and place into a large bamboo steamer basket. Cover and steam over low heat for 30 minutes or until translucent. Remove and set aside to cool.
Combine the rice flour, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Add the stock and mix well, then add the cooled radish. Pour the mixture into baking dish about 15 cm x 20 cm and steam over medium heat for 30 minutes or until a skewer withdraws clean. Stand to cool, then refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.
Cut half the radish cake into bite-sized cubes. The remaining radish cake will keep refrigerated for up to 1 week.
Heat a large non-stick frying pan over high heat, then add 2 tbsp oil. When the oil is hot, add the radish cubes and fry until golden and slightly crisp on all sides. Move the radish cake to the outside of the pan, then add the remaining oil to the centre of the pan. Add the garlic and preserved radish and stir for 30 seconds or until fragrant. Add the chilli paste if using.
Stir together and mash the radish cube slightly to encourage the rough edges to be crispy. Reduce the heat to medium, add the beaten eggs and allow to lightly set. Add the caramel black sauce and gently stir through. Gently flip the radish cake over and cook until golden on both sides. Season with white pepper. Serve scattered with spring onions, sliced chillies and fried shallots.
Photography by Sharyn Cairns. Styling by Lee Blaylock. Food preparation by Emma Warren. Creative concept by Belinda So.
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Cook's Notes
Oven temperatures are for conventional; if using fan-forced (convection), reduce the temperature by 20˚C. | We use Australian tablespoons and cups: 1 teaspoon equals 5 ml; 1 tablespoon equals 20 ml; 1 cup equals 250 ml. | All herbs are fresh (unless specified) and cups are lightly packed. | All vegetables are medium size and peeled, unless specified. | All eggs are 55-60 g, unless specified.
"There are just so many surprises in this inspired street food dish from Singapore. It feels like a wicked carbohydrate hit and yet it’s made with blameless daikon radish which is grated and steamed and then cubed to be tossed in a wok with some delicious drizzles of sauces and easy bits and pieces to create a deeply satisfying snack that would happily work well with a cold beer. If you love the complexity and depth of Singaporean and Malaysian cuisine, this dish, also known as fried carrot cake or fried radish cake is incredible - and shared by my dear friend Helina Lee, a fabulous home cook from a huge Singaporean family who settled in Australia many years ago." Maeve O'Meara,
