CAKES - Other Cakes
Sourdough Pandan Ma Lai Gao (Steamed Sponge Cake)
February 24, 2021
| Recipe by Bake with Paws
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I tried to make Sourdough Pandan Ma Lai Gao (Steamed Sponge Cake) with the left over pandan juice from Onde Onde cake. I used the same recipe of Sourdough Ma Lai Gao and just added some pandan juice. I was so happy when I saw it rise nicely. However, it didn't work very well 😅 When slicing into it, I could find the dense part in the middle of the cake. It was too much liquid. I made another attempt with slight adjustments and it worked! Here is the recipe.
For non sourdough recipe, please click Ma Lai Gao (Steamed Sponge Cake).
The texture of this Sourdough Ma Lai Gao is soft, spongy, chewy and not too sweet. There is no tangy taste too. It could be due to the use of baking soda. There is a nice subtle pandan aroma (not as strong as the Pandan Chiffon cake I usually bake).
Ma Lai Kou or Ma Lai Goa is also called Malay Steamed Sponge Cake and is a very popular dessert in Guangdong and Hong Kong. You can easily find it on the menu of Dim Sum Restaurants. It supposed to be soft, fluffy, chewy and sweet.
TIPS FOR MAKING A SUCCESSFUL MA LAI GAO:
Flour:-
I used a mixture with some high protein flour to achieve a chewy cake texture. The high protein flour in this recipe came from my sourdough discard.
Custard Powder:-
Custard powder gives a soft and fine texture to the cake and also adds some aroma. It can be substituted with corn starch with the addition of 1/4 tsp of vanilla extract.
Oil:-
Oil is needed to keep the cake moist. I used a mixture of butter and vegetable oil to provide a little moist unctuous richness.
Fermentation/Resting The Batter:
Resting will help to produce a soft, airy and spongy cake texture. I tried to rest or ferment the batter for 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours and 5 hours. The result was the same.
Pan and Bamboo Basket/Steamer:
It is better to use a bamboo basket or a pan with holes at the bottom. The hot air will distribute better with the holes at the bottom of the pan and the cake will rise taller and have better fluffiness. For a taller cake, please use a 7 inch round pan or bamboo basket for this recipe. A bamboo steaming basket would be the ideal as bamboo is able to absorb steam moisture.
Steamer:
Use any steamer that works for you. I used an electric steamer. Please make sure to steam at a medium to high heat for a rapid rise and fluffy cake. Always wrap the steamer cover with a clean cloth. This will eliminate any risk of water droplets falling on the cake.
Baking Powder and Baking Soda:-
These two raising agents work together to boost the cake rise for that additional airy and honey comb look that characterizes the texture of this cake and it cannot be achieved with natural sourdough levain alone.
If you have any questions regarding this recipe or any other post, please leave me a comment in the “LEAVE A COMMENT” link and I will reply you as soon as possible. Do tag me on Instagram @Bakewithpaws if you attempt on this recipe.
How To Make Sourdough Pandan Ma Lai Gao/Ma Lai Kou (Steamed Sponge Cake)
Yields: 1 Cake
INGREDIENTS:
Sourdough Discard (100% hydration)
160g sourdough discard
Note: I fed my starter with high protein flour/bread flour. The discard is only 1 - 3 days old. You may also build a new levain if you do not have enough sourdough discard.
Cake Batter:
5 eggs (L size, between 60 - 65g egg)
110g light brown sugar (Original recipe asked for 180g caster sugar. Please increase if you prefer sweeter)
35g corn starch/flour
105g plain flour
2 tbsp (16g) milk powder (optional)
1/4 tsp salt
105g plain flour
2 tbsp (16g) milk powder (optional)
1/4 tsp salt
50g vegetable oil
50g melted butter
50g melted butter
30g (2 Tbsp) concentrated pandan juice
Raising Agent:
1 1/2 tsp baking powder (I used double action baking powder)
3/4 tsp baking soda (If you do not like strong soda taste, then use 1/2 tsp)
Utensil:
7 inch bamboo basket/steamer or 7 inch round removable loose pan
You also use the 8 inch round pan or bamboo basket but the cake will be shorter.
METHOD:
- Line the pan/bamboo basket:
- Line the bamboo basket with parchment paper.
- f removable loose pan is used, please remove the base of the pan and line the the pan with parchment paper. It is better to use bamboo basket or pan with holes at the bottom. The hot air will distribute better with the holes at the bottom of the pan and the cake will rise taller and fluffy.
- Sponge Cake:
- Sift corn starch and plain flour into a bowl. Mix in salt and milk powder. Set aside.
- In a mixer bowl, whisk eggs and brown sugar until fluffy at medium high speed.
- At very low speed, gradually add in the flour mixture and mix until all well combined.
- Change to paddle attachment (You may also stay with the whisk attachment). Add sourdough discard into the batter and pandan juice. Mix until all well incorporated.
- Slowly add in vegetable oil and melted butter. Mix until well combined.
- Sift the batter with a strainer to get a smooth batter - optional.
- Cover and proof for 2 hours in room temperature. You will find the batter very bubbly after proofing but it didn't rise a lot compared with the yeast version.
- After proofing, scoop out 4 tablespoons of batter in a small bowl and stir in baking powder and baking soda. Pour back the mixture into the batter and mix until all well combined.
- Pour the batter into prepared basket or pan.
- Prepare the steamer, wrap the steamer cover with a clean cloth. This will prevent steamer water dropping on the cake. I used electric steamer here.
- Steam for 45 minutes over the high medium heat. Less steaming time required, around 35 - 40 minutes for 8 inch round pan or bamboo basket.
- Once it’s done, open the cover slightly to release the heat slowly before opening fully. This will prevent the cake from sinking. Transfer cake from steamer and remove the pan. Let it cool on wiring rack.
- Re-steam for about 3 - 5 minutes for left over cake before serving.
How To Line The Basket or Pan
Preparing The Cake Batter
This looks so good! If my starter doesn't have high protein flour in it. Can I still use it, and add high protein flour in the batter instead?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recipes :)
Hi, thanks for reading this post. Yes, you can replaced half of the plain flour with high protein flour in the main dough. But, If you don't have high protein flour, plain flour is fine too.
ReplyDeleteCheers :)
Hi, if I want a normal ma lai gao, can I omit the pandan juice and replace with water or milk?
ReplyDeleteHi EVelyn,
DeleteThank you for reading this post. I have a normal sourdough Ma Lai Gao recipe in my blog too.
https://www.bakewithpaws.com/2021/01/sourdough-ma-lai-gao-steamed-sponge-cake.html
Cheers :)
I don't see the custard powder in this pandan recipe... Would I use that instead of corn starch?
ReplyDeleteHi, Thanks for reading this post. Yes, I used corn starch instead of custard powder. It is because there is a certain aroma (something like vanilla) from custard powder and it may not go well with the pandan aroma.
DeleteCheers :)
The step for mixing in the raising agents is missing. Are they sifted with the flour mixture, as commonly done with cakes? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHi, thanks for reading this recipe. The raising agents is added in the batter right before steaming. Please refer to Step 8.
Delete8. After proofing, scoop out 4 tablespoons of batter in a small bowl and stir in baking powder and baking soda. Pour back the mixture into the batter and mix until all well combined.
Cheers :)