This is based on a classic dim sum. Sometimes called radish cake, it
is confusingly made with daikon, more commonly known as mooli. It's
one of my favourites, and ticks a lot of my boxes: it's sweet and
savoury, near custardy in the middle, but crisp on the outside. You
can serve it with drinks as a starter (I have), but it makes for a
lavish side.
Note: to make this, you'll need Thai rice flour (not the glutinous
variety), which is much finer than supermarket rice flour. You'll
also need a one-litre ovenproof dish (ceramic, glass, or even a foil
takeaway container), and a bigger ovenproof dish to put it in . To
get ahead, make this the day before and fry before serving.
First, lightly oil the ovenproof dish you're going to use for the
turnip cake and heat the oven to 240 C (220 C fan)/475 F/gas 9.
Next, make the batter. Put the flour, corn flour, sugar, and salt in a
bowl, pour in 225 ml water, stir and put to one side.
Put 2-1/2 tb of oil in a large frying pan on a medium heat and, when
hot, add the shallots and mushrooms, and cook for 8 minutes, until
soft and threatening to caramelise. Add the garlic, cook for 2
minutes, then add the grated mooli and cook, stirring regularly, for
10 to 12 minutes, until the water has evaporated and the mixture is
looking quite dry. Scoop the lot into the batter, mix well, then pour
into the oiled dish.
Fill and boil the kettle. Tightly cover the mooli mix dish with foil,
sealing it around the edges so no air can escape. Put the bigger oven
dish in the hot oven, then put the smaller one (with its foil lid)
inside it. Carefully pour the water from the kettle into the bigger
dish, so it comes about halfway up the sides of the smaller dish,
then bake for 40 minutes. Carefully lift out the turnip cake dish and
leave to cool (leave the water in the bigger oven dish to cool before
you pour it away).
Peel off the foil lid from the turnip cake, leave the cake to cool,
then cover and transfer to the fridge for an hour, or overnight,
until cold.
Just before serving, put the soy sauce, agave syrup, sesame oil and
vinegar in a small bowl and mix.
Cut the turnip cake into 12 equal slices. Put 1 tb of oil in a frying
pan, add half the turnip cakes, and fry for 3 minutes on each side,
until golden brown. Transfer to a serving plate and repeat with the
remaining slices of turnip cake.
Spoon a little of the sauce over the turnip cakes on the platter,
sprinkle on the sliced spring onions, and serve with the rest of the
sauce on the side.
