Traditional snack food in Tamsui (Part 14 Rice cakes)

Long-grain 在來 rice

These cakes are available throughout Taiwan. However, Tamsui, being the trade center of rice farmers from surrounding areas gets the best of the 在來 grains, from which the most delicious, always freshly-made rice cakes are made:

(1) 蘿蔔糕Radish rice cake: The cake-making is relatively simple, first cook julienned skinned daikon radish until done. The softened radish is then mixed with rice powder (other ingredients such as bits of dried shrimps and mushrooms can also be added), pour into a mold, and steamed for about an hour or until done. Let cool. When ready, cut into 2x3x0.5 inch slices. Slightly brown them in oil/lard and together with special soy sauce paste  (off the shelf in bottles or home-made), this makes an outstanding breakfast:

(2) 碗稞Small-dish rice cake: This one comes in two flavors, sweet and salty.  The sweet version is easy to make, simply mix rice powder with water to make a paste, then add white and brown sugar water, pour into a small dish (usually that for placing a broad porcelain soup spoon) and steam for about 20 min. Done. The salty version requires ingredients such as chopped-up dried goods such as radish, mushroom, shrimp, green onion, and some minced pork, to be added after the first steam-cooking, then steamed again. This can be prepared in small dishes or in rice bowls.

Rice cakes in an aluminum steamer

In Tamsui, small-dish rice cakes were usually sold by kids out to make a buck, after school of course.