Chao Nian Gao

Adopted from https://drivemehungry.com/stir-fried-shanghai-rice-cakes-chao-nian-gao/

Ingredients:

16 oz rice cakes - pre-soak if using dried rice cakes
1 lb chicken breast - thinly sliced, about ⅓ inch thick
3 Tablespoons oil (olive is fine)
5 large shiitake mushrooms - sliced about ⅓ inch thick with stems removed
4 cups napa cabbage - chopped into 2 inch pieces
3 scallions - chopped into 2 inch pieces

red pepper flakes if a little kick is desired

Sauce:
2 Tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
2 Tablespoons dark soy sauce
2 Tablespoons oyster sauce
2 teaspoons brown sugar
¾ teaspoon Chinese black vinegar

3 cloves garlic - minced

Instructions:

1. If using dried rice cakes, pre-soak them in water for about 3 hours or overnight in the fridge. After 30 minutes, carefully separate the rice cakes so they're not stuck together. For frozen, just thaw to RT.

2. Add the ingredients for the sauce in a small bowl and mix it together until the sugar dissolves.

3. Heat a wok or large pan on high heat and add the oil. Once the pan is hot, lay the chicken pieces flat on the surface and let it cook for about 1 to 2 minutes or until it's almost cooked through.

4. Next, add the mushrooms and scallions to the pan and stir fry for about 1 minute. 

5. Add in the drained rice cakes and add 4 Tablespoons of the sauce. Stir fry the rice cakes together for 2 - 3 minutes and then add in the chopped cabbage. If needed, add in the rest of the sauce and stir fry everything together for another 2 - 3 minutes or until the rice cakes are soft and chewy and the cabbage has wilted. 

6. Taste a rice cake to be sure it's fully softened. Add 1 Tablespoon of water if needed to further soften it up while stir frying. Serve and eat immediately as the rice cakes harden when they cool.