Turnip cake (Lo bak go)

Turnip cake is a savory Chinese snack that is frequently served as a part of traditional dim sum meals. Even though it is referred to as turnip cake in English, the main ingredient in the dish is traditional Chinese radish, a white colored plant with a sharp and pungent taste.

Grated radish is cooked and mixed with rice flour and water to create white, soft, firm, and sticky dough. Other crucial elements of every traditional turnip cake include fried sausage, diced Chinese bacon, mushrooms, and occasionally shrimps. They are usually fried and incorporated into the dough, or simply sprinkled over rectangular slices of this tender cake.

Steamed turnip cake can be consumed immediately, but it is often saved for the following day and eaten as a hearty breakfast, usually sliced and pan-fried on both sides. Whether the cake is served plain, decorated with garnishes, or pan-fried, a portion of hoisin or spicy sriracha sauce is usually served on the side.

Although it is served all year round, it is an irreplaceable dish and a favorite delicacy served during Chinese New Year’s festivities.