Nian-gao: Advancement for Year 2006

The above is a macadamia curry soup. We used this as a soup base for noodle soup using brown rice spaghetti noodle. The stuff floating in the soup is taufu pok. Taufu pok is fried tofu but it has a springy texture with more air holes than the usual tofu. It really looks like a sponge. The spongy texture of the tofu helps to absorb the soup in the tofu. So when you bite into it, the soup oozes into your mouth. I kinda of like this soup because it has macadamia nuts, it's great! Vegans and vegetarians can have this soup too.



We use gram flour (also called besan flour or chana flour or chick pea flour) to fry the orange yam and the sweet potato together. In between the yam and potato is nian-gao (made of glutinous rice flour, rice flour, coconut milk and brown sugar). Nian-gao is a must have Chinese New Year cake. Nian-gao literally means more improvement or advancement each year. Yup, this is what we hope for 2006. Both vegans and vegetarians can enjoy this dish too.