Food & Receipts

The Quintessential Quang Ninh Cake: Unveiling the Secrets of “Gù Gù” Perfection

As a renowned specialty of Quang Ninh province, gatto cake will captivate the taste buds of all visitors with its chewy, stretchy, and delightfully fragrant texture, infused with a subtle hint of rice aroma.

Administrator

9 July, 2024

Preparation
240 minutesCooking
30 minutesServes
2 – 3 people

Quang Ninh‘s specialty, the namesake of this dish, is derived from the way the cake sways and ‘nods’ when held in your hand. Join us today as we learn how to make this incredibly delicious and unique dish!

1Ingredients for Gật Gù Cake

500g rice
200g cold rice
500g minced meat
Shallots, chilli
Seasonings: Fish sauce, chicken fat, pepper
Tools: Mortar and pestle, bamboo skewers, plates,…

Tip: To make the Gật Gù cake even more delicious and authentic, choose high-quality, sticky rice with round, whole grains. Avoid broken or discolored grains.

2How to Make Gật Gù Cake

Step 1 Prepare Ingredients and Grind Rice

First, soak the rice in cold water for about 8 hours or overnight. Then, grind the soaked rice into a thick, smooth paste, adding the cold rice gradually as you grind.

Prepare ingredients and grind rice

Note: Do not soak the rice for more than 8 hours to prevent the cake from becoming crumbly and losing its chewy, sweet, and fragrant texture.

Step 2 Mold, Roll, and Cut the Cake

Next, once your mold is hot, scoop the rice batter into it, cover, and wait for 3-5 seconds. When the cake is cooked, open the lid, use a bamboo skewer to remove it from the mold, roll it into a cylinder, and cut into 15-20cm long segments. Repeat this process until you’ve used all the batter.

Molding, rolling, and cutting the cake

Tip: The process of molding the Gật Gù cake is similar to making steamed rice rolls or pho, but use a larger scoop of batter to achieve the right thickness, fluffiness, and authenticity.

Step 3 Make the Dipping Sauce

Melt the chicken fat in a pan, thinly slice and fry the shallots, then add the minced meat and cook until just done. Finally, add fish sauce and sliced chillies to taste, along with pepper, and simmer gently.

Making the dipping sauce

Step 4 The Final Product

Despite its humble appearance, this Gật Gù cake will captivate your taste buds with its chewy, fluffy texture and subtle rice aroma. It pairs well with many other Quang Ninh specialties.

Gật Gù cake with its distinctive rice aroma pairs well with other dishes

3Enjoying the Cake

Unlike steamed rice rolls or pho, Gật Gù cake has a unique chewy sweetness and a subtle rice aroma. When served with other Quang Ninh specialties such as cha lua, khau nhuc, squid cakes, and plum wine, it enhances the flavor and appeal of these dishes.

Gật Gù cake is often served with other Quang Ninh specialties

And there you have it! A simple recipe for Gật Gù cake, a delicious and unique Quang Ninh specialty. Impress your family and friends with this tasty treat!

Frequently asked questions

A specialty of Quang Ninh, named after the way the cake sways and ‘nods’ when held.

500g rice, 200g cold rice, 500g minced meat, shallots, chilli, and seasonings: fish sauce, chicken fat, and pepper. You will also need tools like a mortar and pestle, bamboo skewers, and plates.

Select high-quality, sticky rice with round, whole grains. Avoid broken or discolored grains to ensure the best texture and taste.

Soak the rice in cold water for about 8 hours or overnight. Then, grind the soaked rice, gradually adding the cold rice, until you achieve a thick and smooth paste.

Use a hot mold and scoop the rice batter into it. Cover and wait for 3-5 seconds. Open the lid, remove the cake with a bamboo skewer, roll it into a cylinder, and cut into 15-20cm long segments. Repeat until all the batter is used.

Melt chicken fat in a pan, fry thinly sliced shallots, add the minced meat and cook. Finally, add fish sauce, sliced chillies, and pepper to taste.

The Gật Gù cake has a humble appearance but offers a chewy, fluffy texture and a subtle rice aroma. It pairs well with other Quang Ninh specialties.

Gật Gù cake has a unique chewy sweetness and a more pronounced rice aroma. It enhances the flavor and appeal of other Quang Ninh dishes when served together.