Korean Rice Cake from Dandong

Korean Rice Cake from Dandong

　　Korean rice cake is made from glutinous rice that is pounded with a rice mallet. It can be found all over the streets of Dandong—soft, sticky, sweet, and translucent, it's truly a rare delicacy.

　　Introduction:

　　　During preparation, (1) first wash the glutinous rice and soak it in water for over ten hours, until the grains can be easily crushed by hand. Then drain the rice. (2) Next, steam the rice in a steamer over high heat for over half an hour. (3) Then place the steamed glutinous rice on a cutting board and pound it with a wooden mallet while turning it over. Wipe the board with water as you go, otherwise the rice cake will stick to the board and become difficult to turn. The more evenly you pound it, the better. Generally, it should be pounded until no rice grains are visible. (4) Finally, sprinkle red bean paste or cooked soybean flour on top before eating. For those who prefer sweetness, dip it in sugar; for those who prefer saltiness, serve it with salt. This rice cake is sticky, moist, and delicious, with a fragrant taste.

　　　　Nowadays, in Baoshan Korean Village, Shihuigou Township, Kuandian Manchu Autonomous County, visitors can still witness this interesting scene during local hospitality.

　　　　There are generally two types of rice cakes: white rice cake made from glutinous rice, and yellow rice cake made from millet. The method of making rice cake is as follows: first soak the rice in water for a period of time, then take it out and steam it in a pot. Place the steamed rice in a wooden or stone trough and pound it repeatedly with a wooden mallet. Usually, two people stand facing each other at the edge of the trough, taking turns pounding, or one person pounds while the other turns the rice dough underneath to ensure even pounding. In this way, a fragrant, sticky, delicate, and chewy rice cake is made.

　　　　The Korean people have a long history of enjoying rice cake. On major festive occasions such as New Year’s, birthdays of elders and children, and wedding celebrations, rice cake is an essential dish on the table. Therefore, if you see women busily and cheerfully making rice cake, you know there must be a joyous event in the household. Rice cake is not only used for personal consumption or to entertain guests, but is also a gift exchanged among relatives and friends. Additionally, rice cake has health benefits. A Korean saying, “Eating rice cake in summer is like eating a small ginseng,” illustrates this point.