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Kinnathappam
Steamed rice and coconut milk squares
Kinnathappam: steamed rice and coconut milk squares with cardamom
Kinnathappam is named after the kinnam, the round steel plate it sets in, and it is one of the soft, wobbly sweets Mappila cooks in Malabar make for iftar and Eid. Rice flour, coconut milk and sugar are stirred into a smooth batter, steamed until just set and cut into glossy diamonds that taste of coconut and cardamom. Chef's tip: strain the batter before steaming; any lumps of rice flour show as white specks in the finished squares.
- Total time
- 55 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 8
Ingredients
- 5 ½ oz fine rice flour
- 1 ¾ cups coconut milk
- ¾ cup water
- 4 oz sugar
- ½ tsp ground cardamom
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 tbsp gheefor the plate
- 8 cashews (optional)split, to decorate
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Whisk the 5 ½ oz fine rice flour with the 1 ¾ cups coconut milk, ¾ cup water, 4 oz sugar, ½ tsp ground cardamom and 1 pinch salt until the sugar dissolves. Pour through a sieve.
5 minStep 3: Warm the batter in a pan over a low heat, stirring all the time, for 6–8 minutes, until it thickens to the consistency of custard. This pre-cooking stops the rice flour sinking.
8 minStep 4: Pour into the plate, scatter over the 8 cashews and steam, covered, for 25 minutes. It is done when it looks translucent and a knife comes out clean. A common mistake is letting water drip from the lid onto the surface; wrap the lid in a cloth.
25 minStep 5: Cool completely, at least an hour, before cutting into diamonds with an oiled knife. Keeps 2 days in the fridge.
60 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 230 kcal
- Protein
- 2 g
- Carbs
- 32 g
- Fat
- 11 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does kinnathappam take?
- About 55 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 40 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 8 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of coconut milk?
- Single cream, same amount (not dairy free).
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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