Steamed Steamed Cake

Steamed Steamed Cake

　　Steamed Steamed Cake is a rice-based snack known for its soft, chewy texture and sweet, fragrant taste. It is prepared by steaming. This dish is a famous snack from Chengdu, popular throughout the Bashu region, and is referred to as "Chongchong Cake" in Chongqing.

　　Method of making Steamed Steamed Cake: iTL

　　Glutinous rice and regular rice are mixed, soaked, and ground into coarse powder, then excess moisture is pressed out and the powder is loosened. iTL

　　During steaming, a specially made boiling pot is placed over high heat, with a dedicated wooden mold positioned over the steam vent on the pot. When steam emerges, rice flour is scooped into the mold. Once steam rises, an appropriate amount of rendered lard is added, then the mold is covered and steamed until cooked. The cake is then spooned out onto a plate and sprinkled with sesame, osmanthus, and sugar. iTL

　　Key points: Steaming time is about 3–4 minutes, resulting in small and thin cakes. iTL

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　　The history of Steamed Steamed Cake: iTL

　　In the past, vendors selling Steamed Steamed Cake would typically carry a shoulder pole. The front end held utensils, wooden boxes, and ingredients such as rice flour, while the rear carried a stove, charcoal, iron pots, and a steamer basket. The steamer used for Steamed Steamed Cake was particularly special—it had to be carved from the wood of either a horse chestnut or a paulownia tree. After felling, the wood needed to be dried and made into steamers around the ninth lunar month each year to ensure durability. These two types of wood are hard yet flexible, preventing deformation or flavor transfer when heated. iTL

　　In 20th-century Chengdu, in both bustling streets and quiet alleys, no matter the season or time of day, one could always hear the rhythmic "bang bang" sound of Steamed Steamed Cake vendors. At that time, the cake was considered an affordable and delicious treat—just a few cents would buy you one. With its soft, sweet, fragrant, and slightly crispy taste, it was especially loved by the elderly and children. iTL