Dessert

Kutsinta

This video shows how to make a layered Filipino steamed rice cake called Kutsinta. The cake has three layers: a white base, a yellow jackfruit layer, and a purple ube layer, and is topped with toasted coconut and coconut curds.

🍳
22m
Cook

Ingredients

  • tapioca flour
  • all-purpose flour
  • rice flour
  • granulated sugar
  • coconut milk
  • lye water (lihia)
  • ube extract
  • red food coloring
  • yellow food coloring
  • jackfruit extract
  • ube halaya
  • jackfruit
  • desiccated coconut
  • coconut cream
  • cooking oil
  • Salt

Method

  1. 1

    In a large bowl, combine the tapioca flour, all-purpose flour, rice flour, and granulated sugar. Pour in the coconut milk and lye water. Mix with a spatula until the batter is smooth and well-combined.

  2. 2

    Divide the batter evenly among three separate bowls.

  3. 3

    To the first bowl, add the ube extract, 1 drop of red food coloring, and the ube halaya. Mix until the color is a uniform purple and the jam is fully incorporated.

  4. 4

    To the second bowl, add the yellow food coloring and jackfruit extract. Mix until the color is a uniform yellow.

  5. 5

    Leave the third bowl plain.

  6. 6

    Lightly grease small bowls or molds with cooking oil using a pastry brush. Arrange the molds in a steamer rack.

  7. 7

    Pour a small amount of the white batter into each mold, filling them about one-third of the way. Place the lid on the steamer and steam for 5 minutes.

  8. 8

    Carefully remove the steamer lid. Arrange a few slices of jackfruit on top of the steamed white layer in each mold. Pour the yellow batter over the jackfruit until the molds are about two-thirds full. Cover and steam for another 5 minutes.

  9. 9

    Carefully remove the steamer lid again. Pour the purple ube batter on top of the yellow layer, filling the molds to the top. Cover and steam for a final 10-12 minutes, or until the kutsinta are firm and cooked through.

  10. 10

    Once cooked, remove the steamer from the heat and let the kutsinta cool completely. Once cooled, carefully unmold them.

  11. 11

    In a dry pan over medium heat, toast the desiccated coconut, stirring constantly, until it turns golden brown.

  12. 12

    Pour the coconut cream into a pan and bring it to a boil, stirring continuously. Continue to cook until the oil separates and the solid curds turn a deep brown. Strain the mixture to separate the brown curds (latik) from the coconut oil.

  13. 13

    Place the cooled kutsinta on a platter lined with banana leaves. Sprinkle the top of each kutsinta with the latik (coconut curds) and toasted coconut. Serve and enjoy.

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