March 10, 2010

Foochow Traditional Wedding Cake (Leh Pian)

The new generation of Foochows will no longer send out these traditional cakes to announce a forthcoming marriage.

However one can just buy a piece in any supermarket or mini-mart. It will be labelled "Foochow Sesame Cake" or "Foochow Wedding Cake". Many people are pleasantly surprised by the label.

I was given one piece the other day by an aunt who wanted to "amuse" me...and she said..."eat for fun...."

She also reminded me that if my daughter was ready to get married "her leh pian would be fragrant and ready to come out of the oven". When we analyse the Foochow dialect of the last generation there is much ethnographical knowledge to be tapped!

She also said that the ingredients are no longer the same without the traditional addition of pork fat and buah kundur (or winter melon). May be one day I could get the recipe from an old friend who is the son of Wan Hin Biscuit Shop towkay...Enjoy the photos!




18 comments:

William said...

I still like this. Ya, you are right... no pork fat or winter melon anymore. These two extra ingredient made the cake different.

Ah Ngao said...

is the taste or contents like that " Hong choi pia" (wind-blowned)? looks quite like it except more sesame seed on it.

wenn said...

looks yummy! love sesame seeds!

Willie a.k.a Reptoz said...

Oh? they don't send this as wedding gift anymore? Looks delicious. I think i have tasted this before.

天鵝江畔 said...

what size is it? it depends whose most close relatives:一號餅 二號餅etc

Lee said...

Hi Sarawakiana, Wow! I have never seen this cake before, though have seen almost similar ones. Looks nice too.
The insides look tempting, ha ha.
Have a nice day, Lee.

Daniel Yiek said...

I love these cakes!!!

fufu said...

wow wow wow... i wanna eat =p

Ensurai said...

Dear William
Your family must be traditional enough to teach you how to enjoy this traditional pian...actually there is another ingredient - fried onions and black sesame seeds. Peanuts are not finely ground so that it is every crunchy.

Thanks...

Ensurai said...

Yes Ah Ngao --it is more or less like the Hock Chiu pian...I remember only the wonderful taste of the older version of this cake.

Ensurai said...

Wenn
If this cake is modernised it can be very nice indeed. e.g. make it smaller and improve the healthier ingredients.
It is really a good cake.

Ensurai said...

Willie
No most Foochows do not send this any more. They have other alternatives. May be the very traditional families will still send and that is if they can find a bakery which can cater for this event.
Thanks for visiting.

Ensurai said...

ML
this is the RM2.20 size in Miri supermarket. The Size Five is almost l foot in diameter! The size Three is 10 inches and Size One is 8 inches. So I think this can be considered No. One.
Now that you are older ML your grand nieces will send you No.5..and you have to give angpow with gold bracelet...hahahahaha

Ensurai said...

Dear Uncle Lee
When you come to Sarawak I will get a piece from the supermarket for you....also it is on the sweet side but the sesame seeds are fantastic.
The filling (with special ingredients) can also be made to order if you want to make them for your daughter's wedding.

Have a great weekend.

Ensurai said...

Daniel
Hi...can you get these in Singapore?
Nice if we can make it at home with the right recipe.

Ensurai said...

fufu...
Look up some Foochows in Sarawak....may be they can get you some...

Cheers :)

Unknown said...

I am so keen to find out about the recipe of leh piang. Do you have this recipe to share.

Unknown said...

I am very keen to try how to bake leh piang coz I am a foochow. Do you have a recipe to share?

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