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Bubur merah putih (red and white porridge)
A palm-sugar rice porridge and a coconut-milk rice porridge served side by side, Javanese style
In Java, bubur merah putih is cooked for a baby's naming day, a child's birthday or a new house: a red-brown porridge sweetened with palm sugar and a white one rich with coconut milk, spooned side by side into one bowl. The red is said to stand for courage and the white for purity, and the bowls are shared with neighbours as thanks. The family and older children eat the sweetened red half; it is not for babies under one because of the sugar. Free of milk, egg, gluten, nuts and soya. Chef's tip: tie a pandan leaf in a knot and simmer it in both pots for a gentle vanilla-like scent.
- Total time
- 50 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
For the white porridge
- 3 ½ oz jasmine ricerinsed
- 3 cups water
- ¾ cup coconut milk
- ½ tsp saltdivided
- 2 pandan leaves (optional)knotted
For the red porridge
- 3 ½ oz jasmine ricerinsed
- 3 cups water
- 3 ½ oz palm sugargrated or chopped
- ½ cup coconut milk
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Put 3 ½ oz jasmine rice and 3 cups water in one pan and 3 ½ oz jasmine rice and 3 cups water in another, adding a pandan leaf from 2 pandan leaves to each if using. Bring both to the boil, then simmer over a low heat for 25 minutes, stirring often, until the grains have broken down into a thick porridge.
25 minStep 2: Stir ¾ cup coconut milk and half of ¼ tsp salt into the white pan. Keep simmering, stirring, for 10 minutes, until thick and creamy and the porridge drops slowly from the spoon.
10 minStep 3: Meanwhile, melt 3 ½ oz palm sugar in the red pan with ½ cup coconut milk and the rest of ¼ tsp salt, then simmer, stirring, for 10 minutes, until evenly caramel-coloured and as thick as the white one. Stop stirring and it will catch: scorched sugar on the bottom is the most common mistake.
10 minStep 4: Remove the pandan. Spoon the white porridge into one side of each bowl and the red into the other, so they sit side by side. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Step 5: Cool leftovers quickly and keep covered in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat with a splash of water, stirring, until piping hot.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 260 kcal
- Protein
- 3 g
- Carbs
- 44 g
- Fat
- 9 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does bubur merah putih (red and white porridge) take?
- About 50 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 40 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of jasmine rice?
- Any long-grain rice, same amount.
- What can I use instead of coconut milk?
- Single cream, same amount (not dairy free).
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