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Pinaca
Rice flour, jaggery and coconut cakes
Pinaca: Goan Christmas cakes of roasted rice flour, jaggery and coconut
Pinaca is one of the oldest Goan Christmas sweets in the kuswar tray, made in the weeks before Christmas from three things: rice flour roasted until golden and nutty, jaggery and freshly grated coconut. They are pressed into small cakes or squares and have a soft, crumbly, toffee-like bite. They are vegan and gluten free. Chef's tip: take your time roasting the rice flour, as it is the roasting that gives pinaca its flavour, but stir constantly because it burns at the edges.
- Total time
- 60 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 16
Ingredients
- 7 oz rice flour
- 9 oz jaggerygrated
- ¼ cup water
- ½ tsp ground cardamom
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 tsp coconut oilfor the tray
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Roast 7 oz rice flour in a dry, heavy pan over a low heat, stirring all the time, for 15–20 minutes, until it turns biscuit-coloured and smells toasty. Tip into a bowl.
18 minStep 2: Dissolve 9 oz jaggery in ¼ cup water over a medium heat, then add 7 oz freshly grated coconut and cook, stirring, for 10 minutes until the mixture is sticky and the liquid is mostly gone.
10 minStep 3: Add the roasted flour, ½ tsp ground cardamom and 1 pinch salt and stir for 5–8 minutes over a low heat, until it comes together into a soft dough. If it is crumbly, add 1 tbsp hot water. A common mistake is overcooking at this stage, which makes them hard.
6 minStep 4: Grease a tray or mould with 1 tsp coconut oil. Press the warm mixture firmly in, about 1.5 cm thick, and cut into squares or press into small moulds.
Step 5: Cool completely and store in an airtight tin for up to a week.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 150 kcal
- Protein
- 1 g
- Carbs
- 26 g
- Fat
- 5 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does pinaca take?
- About 60 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 50 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 16 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.
- 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 jaggery?
- Dark brown or muscovado sugar, same amount.
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Perfect for:Christmas