Nian gao (steamed fruit cake)

500g / 15oz glutinous rice flour
85g / 3oz brown sugar
170g / 6oz dates, cut in half with stones removed (and other dried fruits and nuts if you prefer)
1 tablespoon milk
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
200ml boiling water
Vegetable oil

In a small bowl dissolve the brown sugar in the boiling water.

Take a large mixing bowl and sift in the glutinous rice flour, make a well in the middle and stir in the sugar and water mixture. Add the milk and form a sticky dough with your hands, adding a little water if necessary.

Mix in the dates and other dried fruits and nuts if you like.

Grease and flour a 7-inch cake tin with vegetable oil before placing the dough inside it, spreading it to the edges and sprinkling with sesame seeds.

Place around 2 inches of water in a wok or large pan with lid and place on a high heat.

Steam the cake by placing it in your wok (with the lid on) for around 45 minutes.

nutritional values (approx. per serving)

calories	fat	sat fat	sugars	salt
290	1.9g	0.2g	17g	trace

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