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Puto
Puto: soft, fluffy steamed rice cakes topped with a strip of melted cheese
Puto are small steamed rice cakes found at every Filipino party and merienda table, with countless town styles from Biñan's flat rounds to Calasiao's tiny bites in Pangasinan. Traditionally the batter is fermented ground rice; this home version uses rice flour and baking powder for a quick, reliable rise and a fine, cottony crumb. A strip of cheese on top melts into the cake as it steams. They go with dinuguan in Luzon, but a cup of coffee or hot chocolate is just as good. Chef's tip: wrap the steamer lid in a tea towel so condensation doesn't drip onto the cakes and leave pockmarks.
- Total time
- 40 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 12
Ingredients
- 7 oz rice flour
- 4 oz sugar
- 1 tbsp gluten-free baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¾ cup coconut milk
- ¾ cup water
- 1 oz buttermelted, plus extra for the moulds
- 1 ¾ oz mild cheddar or processed cheesecut into small thin strips
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Whisk 7 oz rice flour, 4 oz sugar, 1 tbsp gluten-free baking powder and ¼ tsp salt in a bowl. Whisk in ¾ cup coconut milk, ¾ cup water and 1 oz butter to a smooth batter like pouring cream. Rest it for 10 minutes while the steamer heats.
12 minStep 2: Bring water to a rolling boil in a steamer over a high heat. Brush 12 small moulds or a mini-muffin silicone tray with butter.
3 minStep 3: Fill the moulds three-quarters full. Common mistake: overfilling; the cakes rise over the edge and lose their neat dome.
3 minStep 4: Steam over a high heat with the lid wrapped in a tea towel for 10 minutes, until risen and set. Lay a strip of 1 ¾ oz mild cheddar or processed cheese on each and steam 2 minutes more, until the cheese melts and a skewer comes out clean.
12 minStep 5: Cool for 5 minutes before turning them out. Serve warm or at room temperature the same day.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 140 kcal
- Protein
- 2 g
- Carbs
- 24 g
- Fat
- 5 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does puto take?
- About 40 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 25 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.
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
- What can I use instead of gluten-free baking powder?
- ¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda + ½ tsp cream of tartar per 1 tsp.
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