Making the Best Mid-Autumn Recipe - Mooncakes

Making the Best Mid-Autumn Recipe – Mooncakes

For weeks leading up to the Mid-Autumn festival every year, mooncakes and festival snacks abound. Many of these products were produced weeks ago and imported from places across the globe. If you’re living in the United States, finding fresh products to celebrate this year’s Mid-Autumn festival can be very difficult. Whether you’re celebrating with family and friends, or just looking for some good, traditional Chinese fare, stick around for some Mid-Autumn recipes and tips.

Background

Traditionally celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese calendar, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a major holiday across China, Taiwan and Vietnam and is rife with traditions and history. As could be expected, food plays a major role in this autumn holiday.

Traditional Foods

One of the most visible and traditional Mid-Autumn recipes on display is often the mooncake. While many varieties exist, traditional mooncakes have a soft outside crust with a sweet, dense filling in the center. Other foods that are enjoyed during this time are things like pumpkin and taro to bring good health and good luck respectively. Other foods include wine with osmanthus flower and river snails, each of these are also tied to lore bringing happiness and bright eyes to those who consume them during the festival.

Simple mooncakes

Making mooncakes along with other Mid-Autumn recipes can be quite a challenge without access to traditional ingredients or mixes. In order to easily make this recipe, stopping by an Asian grocery will help speed up the process. Try …

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How to Make Chinese Moon Cake Recipe

How to Make Chinese Moon Cake Recipe

Moon cakes are made during the 8th month of the lunar Chinese calender. The actual date for celebrating the festival is on the 15th of the 8th month of the lunar Chinese calendar. Usually wooden moulds are used for making moon cakes. Nowadays plastic moulds are used because it is much cheaper. There are many designs on the mould. It can be bought at any shops selling ingredients for cakes.

Ingredients:

Syrup:

  • 1/2 kg sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 2 slices lemon

Boil the syrup for about an hour until it turns golden  test whether it is ready, pour a tbsp of syrup in cold water. If it separates it is ready. If it turns into a ball, the syrup is too thick. Add more more  done, keep in a cool place for 2 weeks before  remaining syrup can be kept for future use.

Pastry:

  • 350-400 g wheat flour
  • 60 g golden syrup
  • 50 g oil
  • 1 tsp alkaline water

Method:

Prepare the pastry: Mix all the pastry ingredients in a bowl. If it is too soft, add in more flour. It should be soft but not stick to the fingers. Divide into 6 portions. Each portion about 50 g. Let it rest for at least an hour.

Filling:

  • 500 g red beans (wash and soak overnight)
  • 500 g sugar
  • 200 ml oil
  • 1 tsp vanilla essence
  • 50 g pumpkin seeds (locally known as ‘kuaci’)
  1. Cook the red beans till soft and dry. Blend red bean in a mixer while
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