Kutsinta
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.
🧂 Ingredients
- 200 g Rice flour(Use glutinous rice flour for a chewier texture, or regular rice flour for a slightly firmer cake.)
- 100 g Tapioca flour(Helps achieve the characteristic chewy and slightly elastic texture.)
- 200 g Brown sugar(Adjust to taste. Dark brown sugar will yield a deeper color.)
- 300 ml Water(Lukewarm water helps dissolve the sugar.)
- 1/2 tsp Lye water (food grade)(Essential for the characteristic bouncy texture and reddish-brown color. Ensure it's food-grade. If unavailable, you can omit it, but the texture and color will differ. Some recipes use baking soda as a substitute, but it's not ideal.)
- for topping Grated fresh coconut(Freshly grated coconut is traditional. Steamed or desiccated coconut can be used as alternatives.)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Prepare the steamer. Fill a steamer pot with water and bring it to a rolling boil over medium-high heat. Ensure there's enough water to steam for at least 30 minutes without boiling dry. Place your kutsinta molds (small, individual muffin-sized molds are common) inside the steamer to preheat.
⏱️ 5 minutes - 2
Combine dry ingredients. In a large bowl, whisk together the rice flour and tapioca flour until well combined and free of lumps.
⏱️ 2 minutes - 3
Dissolve sugar. In a separate saucepan, combine the brown sugar and lukewarm water. Heat gently over low to medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar is completely dissolved. Do not boil. Let it cool slightly.
⏱️ 5 minutes - 4
Make the batter. Pour the slightly cooled sugar syrup into the flour mixture. Whisk until you have a smooth, lump-free batter. The consistency should be like thin pancake batter.
⏱️ 3 minutes - 5
Add lye water. Carefully stir in the lye water. The batter might slightly thicken or change in appearance. Mix just until incorporated.
⏱️ 1 minute - 6
Pour into molds. Carefully remove the preheated molds from the steamer. Lightly grease them if they are not non-stick. Pour the kutsinta batter into each mold, filling them about 3/4 full. Avoid overfilling.
⏱️ 4 minutes - 7
Steam the kutsinta. Carefully place the filled molds into the preheated steamer. Cover the steamer tightly, ensuring no steam escapes. Steam over medium-high heat for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a kutsinta comes out clean.
⏱️ 30-35 minutes - 8
Cool and serve. Once cooked, carefully remove the molds from the steamer. Let them cool in the molds for about 5-10 minutes before gently inverting them onto a serving plate. Serve warm or at room temperature, topped with freshly grated coconut.
⏱️ 10-15 minutes
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓For a chewier kutsinta, use a higher ratio of glutinous rice flour to tapioca flour.
- ✓The lye water is crucial for the signature bouncy texture and deep color. Use food-grade lye water only.
- ✓Ensure your steamer is well-sealed to maintain consistent steam pressure.
- ✓Do not overfill the molds, as the kutsinta will puff up slightly during steaming.
- ✓Serve immediately after topping with coconut for the best texture.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Adjust the amount of brown sugar for desired sweetness.
- Add a few drops of pandan extract to the batter for a pandan-flavored kutsinta.
- Serve with 'latik' (toasted coconut curds) instead of or in addition to grated coconut.
- Some variations include a pinch of salt to balance the sweetness.