Description
A massive, pitch-black cake sold in Xinjiang Uyghur bakeries and stalls. Originally a Russian confection that evolved uniquely. Wheat flour is kneaded with black sugar, lamb fat (or butter), and honey, packed heavily with walnuts and raisins, and baked fluffy in an oven.
Restaurants serving Ba Ha Li (Uyghur Black Nut Cake)
Researching
We are researching restaurants that serve this dish.
On this site you can check dictionary details and, later, places to buy or eat related items.
The Recipe section below is a general reference, not a recipe from the listed shops.
Recipe
Ingredients
- Wheat flour
- Black sugar
- Honey
- Eggs
- Milk
- Lamb fat(or butter)
- Walnuts
- Raisins
Instructions
- [Authentic Recipe]
- (Batter Base) Crack eggs into a bowl and whisk vigorously until frothy.
- Add massive 'Black Sugar (or caramel color)', white sugar, honey, and milk.
- [Secret of Depth]: Add melted 'Lamb fat (Yang You)' or butter/oil and mix well.
- (Flour & Fillings) Sift in wheat flour and baking powder.
- Dump massive amounts of coarsely crushed premium Xinjiang 'walnuts' and 'green/red raisins' into the batter and fold gently.
- (Baking) Pour the batter into a massive, deep square baking tray. Decorate the surface beautifully with more walnuts.
- Bake slowly in the oven for
- mins to
- hour until fluffy to the core.
- Once baked, cleave the giant cake into squares to serve.
Learn more Spice, substitutes, tips
Key spices
Profound depth of black sugar and roasted walnut aroma、クルミの香ばしさ
Substitutes at Japanese supermarkets
(Add walnuts/raisins to a Japanese brown sugar pound cake)
Pairing
Xinjiang Xian Nai Cha(Salted Milk Tea)
Trivia
[Trivia] The name derives from Russian. A historical sweet proving the Silk Road intersects not only with the Middle East but deeply with Northern Russian culture. Using lamb fat is a uniquely Uyghur adaptation, creating a moist, heavy depth.
Eating tips & etiquette
[Unique Eating] Hold the square piece by hand and bite. It possesses a unique, slightly 'chewy/bouncy' texture compared to Western pound cakes. Every bite explodes with the crunch of walnuts and the sweet-sourness of raisins. Eating it alongside hot milk tea is pure bliss.
Allergen
Wheat, Eggs, Dairy, Walnuts