If there is just one traditional Chinese snack you want to pass down to your family, it has to be this scrumptious Chinese Steamed Pumpkin Cake (金瓜糕, Kuih Labu or known as Pumpkin Kuih or Pumpkin Kueh). This is a typical and popular Chinese savoury snack enjoyed by those who yearn for traditional steamed cakes. Pumpkin adds a natural sweetness and gives this steamed pumpkin cake such a beautiful and vibrant golden colour. Hence, they do not just taste good, they look great and auspicious too.
To make the pumpkin cake, you will need to first peel and shred the pumpkin into thin pieces. Then fry the pumpkin cake filling. Prepare a flour batter, add to the cooked filling and stir the flour mixture till it turns sticky. Then transfer the mixture into a greased pan and steamed until set. And we’re done! Garnish with some fried shallots, green onions and red chillies before serving with sweet chilli sauce.
Chinese Steamed Pumpkin Cake 金瓜糕
This absolutely delicious homemade Chinese Steamed Pumpkin Cake makes a perfect breakfast, high tea, afternoon snack or even light lunch. It is also everyone’s favourite when served in parties and gatherings. Definitely, it’s a recipe to keep! So, ENJOY!
Chinese Steamed Pumpkin Cake Ingredients 蒸金瓜糕食材
Chinese Steamed Pumpkin Cake 金瓜糕
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Ingredients
Filling
- 500 gram pumpkin, shredded
- 200 gram meat, diced, seasoned with salt and pepper
- 100 gram dried shrimp, blended coarsely
- 4 shiitake mushrooms, blended coarsely
- 150 gram preserved turnip, tai tau choy, blended coarsely
- 1 tbsp garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp shallot, minced
- 4 tbsp vegetable oil
Batter
- 500 gram rice flour, sifted
- 75 gram Tapioca flour, sifted
- 1000 ml water, 4 bowls
- ½ tsp alkaline water
Seasoning
- 1 tbsp salt, adjust to taste
- 1 tsp sugar, adjust to taste
- 1 tsp chicken stock granules
- 1 tsp ground white pepper
Garnishing
- 10 shallots, or more, peeled, sliced and deep fried
- 1 red chilli, sliced
- 1 bunch spring onions, chopped
First, skin and coarsely grate the pumpkin.
Dice some meat and season with salt and pepper.
Soak dried shiitake mushrooms till soften. Drain and chop or blend coarsely using a blender.
Soak dried shrimps till soften and blend or roughly chop.
Also, soak the preserved turnip (tai tau choy) to remove excess salt. Rinse and mince finely.
Then prepare the ingredients to make the batter.
In a mixing bowl, add in rice flour and tapioca flour. Add in water slowly while stirring at the same time. Stir till a watery batter is formed.
Then add in alkaline water and stir to mix well.
Mix in salt, chicken stock granules and ground white pepper into the flour mixtures. Stir to mix well. And we're ready to make the pumpkin cake.
First, fry some sliced shallots till crispy. Set aside to use for garnish later.
Using the same wok, heat up some shallot infused oil in wok and saute chopped garlic and minced shallot till golden brown. Add in chopped dried shrimps and fry till fragrant.
Then add in the diced meat and fry till all the meat is cooked.
Add chopped preserved turnips and diced shiitake mushrooms. Fry to mix well.
Next, add in the grated pumpkin and continue to stir fry to mix it well with the rest of the ingredients.
Using a strainer, pour the watery flour batter over the mixed pumpkin mixture.
Over medium heat, continue to cook and stir until the mixture thickens.
Transfer the cooked mixture into a lightly greased steaming tray. Even out the top of mixture with a spatula.
Steam it over high heat in a steamer for 40 minutes until the pumpkin cake is totally cooked through.
Remove the tray from steamer and immediately garnish with fried shallot crisps, chopped spring onions and red chillies. Leave to cool completely before cutting the cake.
Serve with sweet chilli sauce and ENJOY!
12 comments
Hi, I used half the quantity but it was still not set even after steaming for 40 minutes. Is there a fix for this? I was thinking of baking it in the oven to dry it out more. Thanks, Patricia.
You need to cook the paste till a bit set before you transfer to steaming tray to steam. Sometimes the pumpkin contains more water than others so it may not be wise to follow exactly the measurement given. The clue is to cook till it forms a paste.Hope this helps.
Hi, can I omit the alkaline water?
Yes, you can omit the alkaline water. Its to give the cake a more chewy texture.
I have an organic pumpkin and wanted to try out our recipe.
Can I do this without any meat? Ok to keep the shrimp. And no chicken stock granules. What I can substitute with? Thanks!
Yes, you can just leave out the meat. The mushroom and dried shrimp are already very flavourful. Thanks
I’m so excited to find this recipe! Was given a pumpkin by my friend that I don’t know what to do with, and then I remembered this delicious, hard to find Kim Gue Kuih! Can you pls tell me how to make alcaline water? Thanks in advance!
Hi, alkaline water is readily available in most Asian grocery stores. Too much hassle to make. Thanks
Hi would like to know if I can use a steam oven instead of the conventional steaming method ? What can I replace with rice flour ? Is all purpose flour the same. Or wheat flour ?
I think you can use a steam oven to steam the cake as it serves the same purpose. Don’t think you can replace rice flour with any other type of flour in this recipe as they are totally different.
Hi Angie,
Was wondering if you can help. I tried the recipe but mine turns out a bit soggy. Would you know why?
Hi Sandra. Perhaps the liquid is too much. You can cut down on the water used. Sometimes the pumpkin will have a higher fluid content, hence reduce the water when making the batter. Otherwise, you can add a bit more rice flour when stirring the batter on the wok.