Residents in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, hand-squeeze the beaten rice paste before they use a mold to roll out traditional rice cakes in various sizes and shapes.(China Daily)

At a glance | Recipes

Ningbo has many rice cake recipes with various seafood ingredients, among which dried seaweed is one of the most-frequently used.

Rice cake with seaweed

A quick recipe that combines crispy seaweed and tender rice cake is among the favorites of many kids. It serves as a good appetizer.

Ingredients:

250 grams soaked rice cake slices

150 grams dried seaweed flakes

15 grams sugar

150 grams oil

Heat the oil until it smokes and then slowly fry the slices of rice cake until brown. Add the sugar, sprinkle on the seaweed flakes and stir well.

Stir-fried greens with rice cake

Rice cake is often partnered with shredded pork and green vegetables making a tasty main dish that balances taste with nutrition.

Ingredients:

500 grams rice cake slices

200 grams sliced cabbage

100 grams shredded pork

90 grams oil

15 grams cooking wine

6 grams salt

Heat half the oil until it smokes then slowly fry the pork until slightly brown.

Heat the rest of the oil and quickly stir-fry the cabbage, add half the salt, and add the stir-fried pork.

Add the rice cake, some water and the cooking wine, and boil for one minute, add the other half salt, stirring well.

The pork can be replaced by shrimp or beef.

Dessert dishes with rice cake

These have a tender flavor and texture that is not overwhelming.

Ingredients:

250 grams rice cake fingers

45 grams brown sugar

3 grams cinnamon

Boil the rice cake fingers until soft, drain and transfer to a plate. Sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon.

By Wu Yiyao (China Daily)