Awakening of Insects · Tea break · Balanced
Osmanthus water chestnut cake
A translucent, springy steamed cake with crunchy diced water chestnut and the sweet scent of osmanthus.
- 45 min
- Serves 4
- Steam
- Medium
CoolingClears heat and moistensHarmonises the middle
Why it suits you: Balanced types simply follow the Awakening of Insects principle of nourishing yin and clearing heat. As the air turns warm and muggy, sweet, cold water chestnut clears heat and moistens, while warm osmanthus keeps it from being too cooling.
Method
Prep 15 min · Cook 30 min- 1Mix the starch with 250 ml of the water into a smooth slurry. Oil a steaming tin.
- 2Boil the remaining water with the sugar and osmanthus until dissolved and add the water chestnuts. Off the heat, slowly stir in half the slurry to make a thick paste, then mix in the rest.
- 3Pour into the tin and steam on high for 30 minutes until translucent. Cool completely before cutting.
Cautions
- If you tend to have a cold stomach or loose stools, one piece is enough.
Chef's tips
- Let the cake cool completely and dip the knife in water so it cuts cleanly.
The TCM view
Water chestnut is sweet and cold, clearing heat, generating fluids and resolving phlegm. Osmanthus is pungent and warm, warming the middle and moving qi; brown sugar harmonises the stomach. Cold and warm balance each other, so it clears without upsetting digestion.
