| Prep: 30 mins | Cook: 40 mins – 50 mins | Difficulty: Medium | Serves: 6 |
| kcal | fat | saturates | carbs |
| 350 | 15g | 12g | 50g |
| sugars | fibre | protein | salt |
| 30g | 3g | 6g | 0.40g |
There’s a certain charm in spending time in the kitchen, creating recipes that aren’t just delightful to the palate, but are also visually appealing. One such recipe that I absolutely adore is the Pandan Flower Rice Cake. This dish brings about a wonderful fusion of flavors and cultures, echoing an interesting combo of my ancestral French finesse and the charm of my native Louisiana’s Creole richness.
The Appeal of Pandan Flower Rice Cake
This recipe, as the name suggests, uses the delightful and distinct flavor of pandan – a tropical plant, that adds an enchantingly fragrant note to the dish. The cake, made with glutinous rice and pandan extract, is topped with an array of colorful, fresh fruits such as mangoes, strawberries, kiwis, and berries, creating a visually stunning dish that’s every bit as enticing as the flavors it brings.
The tactile pleasure of cutting into the soft and sticky glutinous rice, the taste of the sweet and fragrant pandan combined with coconut milk, and the ultimate burst of tropical fruitiness on the tongue, creates a sensory feast that is hard to forget.
Health Benefits and Complementary Dishes
What makes me love this dish even more is its health benefits. The use of fresh fruits brings in a ton of vital vitamins and antioxidants. Pairing it with a fresh stir-fry could add some protein to your meal, providing a well-rounded dining experience.
The Pandan Flower Rice Cake is also incredibly versatile – serve it at a brunch, bring it to a potluck, or simply enjoy it as a post-dinner treat. Other desserts that possess a similar character include Mixed Fruit Pavlova as both dishes beautifully merge health, taste, vibrancy, and satisfaction.
So if you’re looking for a dessert that is not only pleasing to the eye but also brings a smile to your face with every bite, I would highly recommend giving Pandan Flower Rice Cake a shot. It’s a recipe that beautifully encapsulates my love for food and the happiness it can bring to our everyday lives. Bon Appétit!
What You’ll Need
- 2 cups of glutinous rice
- 1 cup of sugar
- 2 cups of coconut milk
- 1 tablespoon of pandan extract
- 1/2 cup of fresh mangoes, diced
- 1/2 cup of fresh strawberries, diced
- 1/2 cup of fresh kiwis, diced
- 1/4 cup of blueberries
- 1/4 cup of raspberries
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 6 pandan leaves, tied into a knot (optional for decoration)
- 6 pieces of edible flowers (optional for decoration)
- 1 cup of water
- 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil (for greasing)
Method
Step One
First, rinse the glutinous rice under running water until the water runs clear. Then, soak the rice in a bowl with enough water to cover it for at least 4 hours or overnight if possible.
Step Two
Drain the soaked rice and place it in a steaming tray. Steam the rice over high heat for about 30-40 minutes until it becomes translucent and soft.
Step Three
While the rice is steaming, in a pot, combine the coconut milk, pandan extract, sugar, and salt. Cook the mixture over low heat until the sugar fully dissolves.
Step Four
Once the rice is cooked, gradually add the cooked rice into the coconut milk mixture. Stir continuously to prevent any lumps from forming. Continue to cook this mixture over low heat for another 10 minutes or until the rice absorbs all the coconut milk and becomes sticky.
Step Five
Then, grease a cake pan or mould with the vegetable oil. Pour the sticky rice mixture into the mould and press firmly with the back of a spoon to ensure the rice is evenly distributed. Set aside and let it cool for about an hour or until the rice cake solidifies.
Step Six
After the rice cake has solidified, carefully remove it from the mould. Arrange the diced fresh mangoes, strawberries, kiwis, blueberries, raspberries on top, and garnish with the pandan leaves and edible flowers if using.
Step Seven
Lastly, slice the Pandan Flower Rice Cake into pieces before serving. Enjoy your delicious and beautiful cake as a wonderful dessert after your meal or a snack at any time.
