At the table
Let the cake cool briefly, then take a small bite; the filling or juices can be hot. Use chopsticks or hold it in its wrapper, and check whether the filling is pork or sweet before ordering.
The common savory version contains pork. Soy sauce adds soy and may contain wheat; some wrappers contain wheat, and lard or cooking wine may be used. A sweet bean filling does not guarantee a vegetarian recipe. Check the filling, wrapper and cooking fat if you avoid these ingredients.
GET TO KNOW THE DISH
What goes into it?
Explore some key ingredients below. Preparations may use additional seasonings and ingredients.
Some wrappers combine glutinous-rice flour with ordinary rice flour or a little wheat flour. Pork-skin aspic may be added to the meat filling; sweet bean-paste versions also exist. Magnolia petals are not a required ingredient. Some doughs contain cornstarch or lard, and cooking wine may be used in the filling.
Typical ingredients
In some versions
Recipes vary by restaurant.
How does it taste?
Sweet-savory pork in the meat-filled version.
- Chili heat
- Texture
- Crisp outside, soft and chewy inside, with a moist filling.
- How it’s made
- Knead the rice-flour dough, enclose the filling, flatten into small cakes and pan-fry, turning to brown both sides.
Some wrappers combine glutinous-rice flour with ordinary rice flour or a little wheat flour. Pork-skin aspic may be added to the meat filling; sweet bean-paste versions also exist. Magnolia petals are not a required ingredient. Some doughs contain cornstarch or lard, and cooking wine may be used in the filling.
A CONNECTION TO PLACE
Origin & regional roots
Associated with Jiangsu.
About this regional connection
Jiangsu: Associated with Wuxi, Jiangsu.
Ask if they have it first
请问你们有玉兰饼吗？
Do you have this item?
A LITTLE SOMETHING TO READ
Story & history
A magnolia name in Wuxi’s rice cakes
Yulan means magnolia. Earlier Wuxi cakes sometimes included chopped flower petals, but the name remained as petals ceased to be essential in many recipes. The cake also moved beyond its spring association to become an everyday local snack. Its rice wrapper and choice of pork or sweet filling help distinguish it from a flower-shaped wheat pastry. In Wuxi it can be part of breakfast or a teatime treat.