Singapore "Carrot Cake"

Ingredients for Singapore "Carrot Cake"

• 450g daikon (also called Chinese radish or luo bo)

• 7 tablespoons peanut or vegetable oil

• 2 teaspoons salt

• 1 teaspoon white pepper

• 250g finely ground rice flour (not sweet

• an Asian brand such as Erawan)

• 475ml water

• 6 large eggs

• 2 tablespoons chopped garlic

• 60ml ketjap manis (Indonesian sweet soy sauce) or thick soy sauce

• 1 1/2 teaspoons sambal oelek or Sriracha (Southeast Asian chilli sauce) plus additional for serving

• 3 spring onions, chopped (1/4 cup)

• 1/2 cup loosely packed sprigs fresh coriander

• a well-seasoned 14-inch flat-bottomed wok with lid

How to make Singapore "Carrot Cake"

Oil bottom and side of a 9-inch round cake pan.

Peel daikon, then shred in a food processor fitted with medium shredding disk. Reserve any liquid.

Heat wok over high heat until a drop of water evaporates instantly. Pour 45ml oil down side of wok, then tilt wok to swirl, coating side. When oil begins to smoke, add daikon with any liquid, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoons pepper and stir-fry 3 minutes. Cover and cook over moderately low heat, stirring and breaking up daikon occasionally, until daikon is very tender, about 15 minutes.

Whisk together rice flour and water in a large bowl until smooth, then stir in daikon (mixture will be lumpy) and pour into cake pan.

Set a steamer rack inside cleaned wok and fill wok with water (not above steamer rack), then bring to a boil. Reduce heat to moderate and steam cake in pan on rack, covered, 1 hour (replenish water as necessary). Wearing oven mitts, transfer pan to a cooling rack and cool about 1 1/2 hours. Wrap pan tightly with plastic wrap and chill at least 8 hours.

Run a knife along edge of cake to loosen, then invert onto a cutting board, rapping on bottom of pan until cake is released. Blot with paper towels. Cut cake into 1/2-inch cubes.

Beat together eggs, 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1/4 teaspoons pepper in a bowl.

Heat dried wok over high heat until a drop of water evaporates instantly. Pour remaining 60ml oil down side of wok, then tilt wok to swirl, coating side. When oil begins to smoke, add cake cubes, garlic, and remaining 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/4 teaspoons pepper and stir-fry, letting cake rest on bottom and sides of wok about 10 seconds between stirs, until golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. (Cubes will soften and may stick to wok. Scrape brown bits from bottom of wok and continue stir-frying.) Add eggs to wok and stir-fry until eggs are just set, about 1 minute. Stir in ketjap manis, sambal oelek, and spring onions, then transfer to a serving dish and scatter coriander on top. Serve with additional sambal oelek.

Disclaimer

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.