Glutinous rice is something of a celebrity cereal in Southeast and East Asia and is famed for its chewy and clumpy texture when cooked. Its mild sweetness and extreme versatility have made it a pantry essential and the star of many traditional recipes across the region. Enter: Nian gao (年糕) – an umbrella term for a smorgasbord of sweet and savory cakes made with either glutinous rice or its flour.