This post is for Carol. She asked for a recipe of steamed cake. I’m not sure if this is exactly what’s in her mind but nevertheless, as Chinese New Year is approaching, steaming some Fatt Ko seems to fit the festivities. Fatt Ko in Cantonese sounds like rise and high which is what Chinese wishes one another during Chinese New Year.
The Fatt Ko did not rise as much as it should be because I ran short of the double-acting baking powder. Anyway, I love the taste and texture of these Fatt Ko.
Ingredients
Starter:
- 200g Hong Kong flour (I used all-purpose flour)
- 1 teaspoon instant yeast
- 150ml water
Dough:
- 250g Hong Kong flour
- 20g double-acting baking powder (I used only 12g as that all I have in my pantry)
- 160ml water
- 200g brown sugar or gula melaka (I used brown sugar)
If done properly, the Fatt Go should rise very high and the top will split. The Fatt Go is a little chewy and denser than it should be. It also has a yeasty flavour to it as Nanzaro said it’s like eating Man Tau (in his words, eating Char Siu Pau without the char siu).
Click on Read More for the instructions.
Instructions
 To make the starter, sift Hong Kong flour and mix well with instant yeast and water. I substituted the Hong Kong flour with all-purpose flour as I have no idea where to buy Hong Kong flour. If you are a Richmondite and know where to get Hong Kong flour, please let me know. |
 The starter dough should be quick stiff. |
 Cover with a damp cloth and set aside for 2 hours. |
 After 2 hours, the starter dough has risen and has a fluffy look. |
 Prepare the dough by sifting Hong Kong flour and baking powder together. |
 Dissolve the brown sugar in the water. |
 Fold in sifted dry ingredients into the brown sugar liquid. |
 Add the starter and mix well. As the starter dough is quick thick, it does need some elbow grease to mix the two different dough together. I suggest you use a wooden spoon to mix instead of using a spatula. |
 Line some custard cups with paper cups and arrange on a steamer tray. Ladle the batter until 90% full. I used a ice-cream scoop and the help of spoon to scrap the batter into the paper cup as the dough is relatively thick. Leave to rise for 20 minutes. |
 After 20 minutes, the batter did rise a bit. Steam over rapidly boiling water for about 15 minutes.
This recipe is taken from Make Your Own Pastry by Novum Organum. |
Is Hong Kong flour simply bleached all-purpose flour? I was going to guess maybe it has less gluten (I think most non-Canadian flour does), but that wouldn’t be an advantage with a yeast recipe, would it?
I’m going to try these tonight!
Where can you get HK flour in the Lower Mainland? Thanks!
Even though you say that you ran out of rising powder, I think those fatt ko look lovely and perfect. It seems that you definitely used a perfect amount of rising powder!
what agreat fatt koh recipe! this is my keeper rcipe.thanks for sharing:)
Wow, Suanne, the pictures of the fatt ko mini cakes looks so perfect! I’m going to try this for CNY and will you know how they turn out. Thank so much for making them and sharing the recipe! 🙂
How many does this recipe make?
Hi West, this recipe yields 12 cup cakes.
I just tried this. Fantastic results! Thanks so much for this recipe!
These bring back sweet memories of when I was a kid and my Mom would take me to the bakeries in San Francisco’s Chinatown. A steamed cake or two always ended up in the bag we brought home.
I have tried your recipe using Hong Kong flour, it turn out great!. Thanks.
Where can I get instant yeast? Thanks.
Hi Teresa, you can find instant yeast in the baking section of most groceries store.
THANKS FOR SHARING… TASTE GOOD…
Hi Suanne,
Your Fat Ko looks very tasty, I’m going to try that. I would like to know what’s Hong Kong Flour?? And where can I get that?
Hi Elsa,
Hong Kong flour is a highly bleached flour. I just use all-purpose flour as I cant find Hong Kong flour in Vancouver too.
Suanne
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Hi Suanes, I’m really glad I found your recipe of this fatt ko. I’m planning to make it for this coming CNY. You mentioned the recipe makes 12. I can use my double steamer to fit 2 muffin pans in the 2 layers. Do you know if that will require me to increase the steaming time? Thanks.z
Hi mei, you may add 5 minutess to the steaming time and try to rotate the steamer after 10 minutes. You can always test the fatt ko with a tooth pick. If it comes out clean, then it’s done.
Hi where can I get hk flour in Vancouver?