20 delicious rice cake recipes from around the world
Traditional Japanese mochi are soft, chewy, and slightly sweet glutinous rice cakes. They are a quintessential part of Japanese New Year celebrations and can be enjoyed in various ways, both sweet and savory.
Gâteau Zinzli is a delightful Mauritian dessert made from glutinous rice, cane sugar, and black sesame seeds. It has a soft, chewy texture and a sweet, nutty flavor, making it a unique and satisfying treat. The preparation requires patience, but the result is a truly special confection.
Kue Putu are traditional Indonesian steamed rice cakes, often sold as a street snack. They are characterized by their cylindrical shape, vibrant green color (from pandan), sweet palm sugar filling, and are typically served with fresh grated coconut.
A traditional Southern Vietnamese cylindrical sticky rice cake, filled with savory pork and mung beans, wrapped in fragrant banana leaves and slow-cooked to perfection. Bánh Tét is a staple during the Tết (Lunar New Year) celebrations.
Puto Bumbong is a traditional Filipino purple rice cake, especially popular during the Christmas season. Made from glutinous rice flour and often colored with ube (purple yam) extract or food coloring, it's steamed until soft and sticky. Traditionally cooked in bamboo tubes, modern versions often use foil or banana leaves. It's typically served warm, slathered with butter, and topped with grated coconut and muscovado sugar.
A beloved Filipino dessert, Biko is a rich and chewy sweet sticky rice cake made from glutinous rice cooked in coconut milk and sweetened with a luscious coconut caramel sauce. It's a staple at celebrations and a comforting treat.
Injeolmi is a traditional Korean rice cake (tteok) made from steamed glutinous rice flour, pounded until smooth and chewy, then coated in a generous amount of roasted soybean powder. It's a delightful chewy, slightly sweet treat often enjoyed during celebrations and holidays.
A delightful and simple Vietnamese savory steamed rice cake, often made with rice flour and tapioca starch, layered with savory mung beans, and finished with fragrant scallion oil. It's a comforting dish that's both soft and satisfying.
An elegant and festive Persian rice cake, Tahchin features layers of fragrant saffron-infused rice and tender chicken, baked to a delightful golden crispiness at the bottom. It's a showstopper main course.
A beloved Saigon street food, Bột Chiên features chewy, pan-fried rice flour cakes with crispy edges, scrambled eggs, and fresh green onions. It's a simple yet satisfying dish with Chinese origins.
A beloved Caspian specialty, Tah-chin-e Mahi is a fragrant and flavorful Persian rice cake featuring a crispy, golden saffron-infused rice crust encasing tender pieces of seasoned fish. It's a delightful combination of textures and aromas.
Delicate, half-moon shaped rice cakes filled with a sweet sesame seed mixture and traditionally steamed over fragrant pine needles. Songpyeon are a quintessential treat enjoyed during Chuseok, the Korean harvest festival.
Fluffy, slightly sweet, and tender Filipino steamed rice cakes, perfect as a snack or accompaniment to savory dishes like dinuguan. This recipe yields small, individual cakes.
A traditional Filipino sweet rice cake, often baked in a clay pot lined with banana leaves, especially popular during the Christmas season. It has a slightly spongy texture and a subtly sweet, coconutty flavor, typically enhanced with toppings.
A beloved Filipino delicacy, Sapin-Sapin is a visually stunning and deliciously chewy layered rice cake made from glutinous rice flour, coconut milk, and sugar. Its vibrant, distinct layers, often colored and flavored with ube (purple yam) and jackfruit, make it a popular centerpiece for festivals and celebrations.
A beloved Persian dish, Tahchin ba Morgh is a fragrant saffron rice cake with a tender chicken filling, characterized by its incredibly crispy, golden-brown bottom crust. It's a visually stunning and flavorful centerpiece for any meal.
A showstopping Persian saffron rice cake featuring a crispy, golden crust of parboiled rice mixed with yogurt and egg yolks, layered with tender, spiced chicken, and barberries. This dish is a true centerpiece for any festive occasion.
A traditional Costa Rican rice cake, often made with cooked rice, coconut milk, sugar, and spices. It has a dense, moist texture and a subtly sweet, tropical flavor, typically enjoyed as a dessert or snack.
Filipino kutsinta are soft, chewy, and slightly gelatinous steamed rice cakes with a distinct brown hue and a hint of coconut. Perfect for merienda (afternoon snack) or dessert.
Mkate wa Kumimina, also known as Mkate wa Sinia, is a beloved Tanzanian sweet rice cake. It has a wonderfully spongy texture and a subtle sweetness from coconut milk and sugar, often enhanced with cardamom. This cake is typically baked and is a popular snack or accompaniment to tea.
