Awakening of Insects · Tea break · Qi Deficiency
Steamed red date sponge cake
A soft sponge cake made in a steamer, no oven needed, sweet with red dates and loved by all ages.
- 40 min
- Serves 4
- Steam
- Medium
WarmingSupports qiNourishes blood and calms
Why it suits you: Qi-deficient types feel tired and lose their appetite as the weather swings between warm and cool. Egg and flour support the middle, red dates nourish the spleen and blood, and steaming keeps it light, so a slice carries you through the afternoon.
Method
Prep 15 min · Cook 25 min- 1Soak the dates in the milk for 10 minutes. Whisk the eggs and sugar with an electric whisk until thick and pale.
- 2Sift in the flour and fold gently, then fold in the milk, dates and oil.
- 3Pour into a lined tin and steam over medium heat for 25 minutes, until a skewer comes out clean.
Chef's tips
- Wrap the lid in a tea towel so condensation does not drip onto the cake.
The TCM view
Egg is sweet and neutral, nourishing yin and blood and supporting qi. Wheat flour is sweet and cool and nourishes the heart and spleen; red dates are sweet and warm, tonifying the middle and calming the mind. Together they gently strengthen spleen qi.
