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Kue akar kelapa
Fried coconut root twists
Crunchy fried 'coconut root' twists from Betawi Jakarta for Lebaran
Kue akar kelapa, 'coconut root cookies', are a Betawi Lebaran tradition in Jakarta, piped in tangled squiggles that look like the roots of a coconut palm and fried until crisp and golden. The dough of rice flour, coconut milk and egg gives a light crunch and a gently sweet, coconutty flavour, and the jars are filled days before Eid so they can be passed around to visiting relatives. Chef's tip: keep the oil at a steady medium heat, as oil that is too hot browns the outside before the inside dries and they turn chewy.
- Total time
- 60 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 12
Ingredients
For the dough
- 9 oz rice flour
- 1 ¾ oz tapioca starch
- 3 ½ oz caster sugar
- 1 egg
- ¾ cup thick coconut milkwarmed
- ⅔ oz buttermelted
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 tbsp white sesame seedsopt
For frying
- 4 ¼ cups vegetable oil
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Dry-toast 9 oz rice flour and 1 ¾ oz tapioca starch in a wok over a low heat for 8–10 minutes, stirring, until the flour feels light and squeaky; leave it to cool.
10 minStep 2: Whisk 1 egg with 3 ½ oz caster sugar and ½ tsp salt until pale, then stir in ⅔ oz butter and the warm ¾ cup thick coconut milk.
5 minStep 3: Add the flours and 2 tbsp white sesame seeds and knead to a smooth, soft dough that you can pipe; add a spoon of coconut milk if it cracks.
5 minStep 4: Heat 4 ¼ cups vegetable oil to 325°F. Press the dough through a cookie press or piping bag fitted with a star nozzle straight into the oil in short, tangled squiggles, a few at a time. Fry for 3–4 minutes, turning once, until light golden and the bubbling slows almost to nothing. A common mistake is frying them pale; under-fried twists go soft in the jar.
25 minStep 5: Drain on paper and cool completely before sealing in airtight jars; they keep for 2–3 weeks.
15 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 180 kcal
- Protein
- 2 g
- Carbs
- 22 g
- Fat
- 9 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does kue akar kelapa take?
- About 60 minutes in total: 30 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 12 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 caster sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
- What can I use instead of egg?
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water per egg, left for 5 minutes (baking only; vegan).
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