Yam Cake (Or Kuih)

Name: Yam Cake (Or Kuih)
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Malaysian
Ingredients: 2 tbsp oil; 5 piece shallots, peeled and finely chopped; 0.75 cup dried shrimp, soaked and coarsely chopped; 1.5 cup yam / taro, diced into 1-2 cm cubes; 1 cup rice flour; 2 tbsp wheat starch; 2 cup water; 1 tsp salt; 0.5 tsp ground white pepper; 1 tsp five-spice powder; 0.5 cup dried shrimp, finely chopped and fried (optional topping); 2 tbsp fried shallot crisps; 1 piece red chili, seeded and finely sliced; 1 stalk spring onion, cut into rounds

A Chinese-Malaysian steamed savoury cake of tender taro, dried shrimp and rice flour with a soft, chewy texture. A beloved tea-time snack across Malaysia and Singapore.

1h 4 servingsRasa Malaysia Source

Extracted by chinwei271Extracted 1 Jul 2026

Nutrition· per serving · estimated

Calories

Protein

Carbs

Fat

Scale recipe

4 servings

Original recipe

Ingredients14 items

Produce

🧅shallots, peeled and finely chopped5 piece

🍠yam / taro, diced into 1-2 cm cubes1½ cup

🌶️red chili, seeded and finely sliced1 piece

🌿spring onion, cut into rounds1 stalk

Seafood

🦐dried shrimp, soaked and coarsely chopped¾ cup

🦐dried shrimp, finely chopped and fried (optional topping)½ cup

Pantry

🛢️oil2 tbsp

🌾rice flour1 cup

🌾wheat starch2 tbsp

🧅fried shallot crisps2 tbsp

Spices

🧂salt1 tsp

🌶️ground white pepper½ tsp

✨five-spice powder1 tsp

Other

💧water2 cup

Instructions

1
Heat a pan over medium-high heat and add the oil.
2
Sauté the chopped shallots until slightly softened.
3
Add the soaked dried shrimp and cook until aromatic, about 3-5 minutes.
4:00 timer
4
Add the cubed yam and stir-fry continuously until the surface begins to brown.
5
In a mixing bowl, combine the rice flour, wheat starch, water, salt, white pepper and five-spice powder.
6
Stir the batter until it is smooth and free of lumps.
7
Slowly pour the batter into the pan with the yam, stirring constantly until it thickens into a paste.
8
Pour the mixture into a rectangular pan and level the top.
9
Steam over high heat for 45 minutes, until fully cooked. Test with a toothpick inserted in the center — it should come out clean and dry, not wet.
45:00 timer
10
Meanwhile, fry the optional extra dried shrimp in a little oil until crisp.
11
Remove the yam cake from the steamer and let it cool for 5-10 minutes.
5:00 timer
12
Garnish the top with the fried dried shrimp, fried shallot crisps, red chili and spring onion.
13
Cut into pieces and serve with chili sauce and/or hoisin sauce.

Free, no card required.

CuisineMalaysian