Tag: kue

Kolak Candil.. Indonesian sweet dish.

dessert

The holy month of Ramadhan all over the world, has different traditions for breaking the fast,  one thing common will be sweetmeats, whether its dates or a glass of sharbat.
Here in Indonesia, people will mostly drink hot sweet black tea to be followed by various KOLAKS.
Kolaks are mostly soupy,  palm sugar  and coconut milk based. Various things are added, like jack fruit or banana, or sweet potato etc. Mostly served warm as the people here believe that breaking a fast with something cold will surely harm the stomach.😊
Kolaks are made with many twists. Here at home during Ramadhan helpers make different types of sweets. Will share some more recipes soon.
Today I will share kolak made with sweet potato dumplings. CANDIL ( pronounced Chandil) is balls of sweet potato. Hence the name.  Easy to make and light on the stomach. No oil goes in the preparation.

Step 1
Peel and chop 500 gms of sweet potato
( I have used orange sweet potato)
Heat a steamer and steam cook the sweet potatoes.
Avoid boiling them .
Once cooked, ( it took about 15 mins in my steamer) remove into a plate and mash using a fork.
Put in a  big bowl along with 150 gms TAPIOKA  flour. Add a pinch of salt and mix the warm mashed pototes with the flour. Knead into a smooth ball.
Divide and roll into small balls. Work quickly, I had help doing these, so it took about 10 mins for 2 of us .😊
I got about 75 small balls( good enough for a nice big bowl of kolak) keep aside.

2nd step.
In a sauce pan,  add 200 ml of coconut milk( I used a tetra Pack) and 100 ml of water.
Put in a knotted pandan leaf.
( or use 1/2 tsp of vanilla powder)
1/2 tsp of salt
Simmer, stirring continuously for 10 mins…keep aside.

3rd step.
Heat 600ml water in a saucepan
Add 200 gms of chopped palm sugar
( jaggery)
1 tbsps of  sugar
1/2 tsp of salt
1 knotted pandan leaf
Or you can add a little vanila essence at the end.
Boil till palm sugar dissolves, strain the water into another pan to get rid of impurities.
Boil once again and add a slurry of 2 tbsps tapioka flour mixed with 50 ml of water.
Bring to a boil and keep aside.

Final step.
Take a big pot, put about 1.5 liters of water, bring to a rolling boil and add the sweet potato balls. They will sink and rise within 5 mins. Keep on boil for another few mins, strain off the water, and add the balls to the palm sugar syrup. Give one boil and done.

AASSEMBLING.
Put few balls and palmsugar syrup in a bowl, drizzle few spoons of coconut milk on top…and enjoy warm.

Tip… to get things done faster, I put the sweet potato to steam on one stove, made the palmsugar syrup on another, and the coconut milk on another. 😊so I was done within 45 mins.

**The bland coconut milk balances the sweet palmsugar syrup.

Kue Putu Ayu, ( snow cakes)

dessert, Uncategorized

KUE PUTU AYU

The name KUE PUTU AYU, loosely translated means pretty putu cake.( I also call these snow cakes)
These pretty little cakes are very easy to make and come in the category of kue manis( sweet cakes)
The distinct topping of  slightly salted grated coconut is the trade mark, and balances the sweetness of the kue perfectly.
Serve these at anytime of the day..people love them .
But traditionaly these are teatime treats.
No oil or butter is added, and steaming these takes hardly 15 mins.
Even after 38 years of living in Indonesia, I am still facinated with the way sweetmeats are created here like works of art.  Delicate, pretty and oh so tasty.

Serve these warm, and if you have any leftovers, keep in the fridge, in an airtight container and consume within 24 hrs.
After reheating in the steamer .

Since this is the holi season, I have made these in pretty multi coloured hues.

Holi is the festival of colours and celebrated with great gusto by indians by playing with water spray guns, vibrant colour powders rubbed into each other faces, and water balloons. The streets of India on the day of Holi look colourful , with people having fun.

Kue Putu Ayu..recipe with egg


STEP  1.
Mix 400 gms peeled grated coconut with 1/2 tsp salt and 2 tbsps cornflour.
Steam the coconut in a bowl for 15 mins.
Next,
Take about 20 small moulds, grease them very lightly and press grated coconut tightly into the grooves., keep aside.( pictures given below)
Pre heat the steamer, and cover the lid with a kitchen napkin, to prevent steam droplets from dropping onto the cakes.
.
STEP 2
In a mixing bowl add:-
2 whole eggs
175gms sugar
1/2 tsp emulsifier ( optional)
Whisk the above till sugar dissolves and eggs are fluffy and stiff.( I used an electric beater, it took me about 10 mins)
Add 2 tsps of vanilla essence.
Beat once more.

STEP 3
Sift together 200 gms of flour and 1/2 tsp baking powder. ( add 1/4 tsp baking soda incase you are not adding the emulsifier)

STEP 4
Mix together 75ml of thick  coconut milk with 125 ml of water.
( I used coconut milk from a tetra pack.)

Step 5
Add flour and coconut milk alternately to the beaten eggs and sugar.
Mix at a very low speed.

Divide the mixture into as many colours of cakes you want.
I divided into 4 bowls and added 4 different colours, blue, pink, purple and green.
Now spoon the mixture into the prepared moulds.( I used plastic moulds )
And steam for 15 mins.

Done, they come out very easily.
Serve with a hot cup of coffee.
Very pleasing eye candy, and very light to eat too. Do try these.

EGGLESS KUE PUTU AYU


STEP  1.
Mix 200 gms peeled grated coconut with 1/4 tsp salt and 1 tbsps cornflour.
Steam the coconut in a bowl for 15 mins.
Next,
Take about 10 small moulds, grease them very lightly and press grated coconut tightly into the grooves., keep aside.( pictures in comments)
Pre heat the steamer, and cover the lid with a kitchen napkin
.

In a bowl add 100 gms sugar

75ml water

75 ml coconut milk( I used a tetra pack)

Whisk everything together until sugar disolves.

Add 100 gms flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda.

And mix well till no lumps remain.

Divide the batter into 3 or 4

Add colouring and mix gently.

Pour into moulds and steam for 15 mins.

Done.

Kue Bolu Sakura

snacks

KUE BOLU SAKURA
These cute little steamed cakes are a pleasure to see and eat. A no hassle recipe , which comes together quickly. These cute cakes are named after the sakura flower, because of the moulds they are made in.The texture of kue sakura  is very light and airy.
These  sweet cakes are  Included in the vast KUE  varieties available all over Indonesia.
KUE MANIS  to an Indonesian is what MITHAI  is to an Indian. Kue are small bite sized sweetmeats usually  made of rice flour, coconut milk, sugar etc and are mostly steamed. Milk is rarely used.
In todays recipe, I have also added a spice mix called SPEKUK. This spice mix has its origins from the Dutch colonial Era, and is used in some traditional cakes and biscuits here.
Familiar to the Indian taste buds, cinnamon, cloves, cardamon, cloves and aniseed are blended together,  with cinnamon and cloves being the dominant flavour. 
Use this mix to flavour your biscuits and cakes instead of vanila for a change.
Do try these little treats, use any tiny moulds if you can’t find the same. Any will do.

KUE BOLU SAKURA.

1st step..
Heat 125 gms of sugar with one tbsp of water to make a rich caramel.
Slowly add 250ml of hot water, and boil till caramel dissolves.
Remove from heat and cool completely.

2nd step.
Mix together dry ingredients
200 gms of  flour
25 gms cornflour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1.5 tsp spekuk spice mix
Sift and  keep aside.

Melt 75 gms margarine and keep aside.

3rd step.
In a mixing bowl add
2 eggs
125gms sugar

Beat till  sugar dissolves, and soft peaks form.
Add the caramel water slowly and whisk till mixed.
Now add  the sifted flour, beat once more till mixed.
Finally fold in the melted margarine.or butter.
Pour into lightly greased moulds and steam for 15 mins. Make sure the steamer is already hot.
( to prevent steam from dripping onto the kue, we normally tie a napkin on the lid)
The fragrance of spekuk will waft thru your kitchen, as the kue are being steamed.
As you open the lid, the kue looks quite puffed up, they will shrink within mins.

Cool for a few mins and remove from moulds.
Done. Enjoy with a cup of hot coffee .

Spekuk spice mix.
2 tbsps ground cinnamon
2 tbsps ground nutmeg( I grated it)
1/2 tsp ground cardamom
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp ground aniseed
Blend everything together and use.
Store the remaining in the refrigerator.