Suman Malagkit
Ingredients
- 2 cups glutinous rice
- 2 cups coconut milk
- ½ cup sugar
- Pinch of salt
- young banana leaves
Instructions
- Gently clean the banana leaves with a damp cloth and cut them into 9×6-inch rectangles. Set them aside for wrapping.
- Rinse the glutinous rice flour thoroughly, ensuring it’s clean and ready for the next steps.
- In a large pot over medium heat, combine coconut milk, sugar, and a pinch of salt. Stir until the sugar and salt are completely dissolved. Add the glutinous rice to the mixture.
- Bring it to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it cook until all liquids are absorbed. Add water if needed, ensuring the rice is almost cooked but not fully. Let the rice cool down a bit for easier handling.
- Scoop about 2-3 tablespoons of rice onto a banana leaf and roll it into a thin log. Fold 2 inches of each end towards the middle to enclose the rice. Repeat this process until all the rice is used.
- Place the rice logs in a steamer basket, fold side down, and steam for approximately 30-45 minutes.
- Once steamed, allow the suman to cool. Unwrap the banana leaves and transfer the suman to a serving plate. Serve these delightful treats with sugar or a luscious latik sauce.
Details Behind My Suman Malagkit Recipe
Suman Malagkit Recipe – There are plenty of dishes that make use of glutinous rice in both savory and sweet dishes. In the Philippines, a classic treat featuring glutinous rice would be suman. Suman is a traditional Filipino rice cake prepared by cooking glutinous rice in coconut milk, this delicacy is commonly enclosed in banana leaves, coconut leaves, or leaves from the buli or buri palm for the steaming process. Suman is typically enjoyed with a sprinkle of sugar or topped with latik, a sweet coconut milk residue. Additionally, it comes with plenty of variations.
One classic variation is suman malagkit. Suman malagkit is a glutinous rice snack half-cooked in sweetened coconut milk and a touch of salt. Encased in banana leaves, the mixture undergoes boiling or steaming until it achieves a soft, chewy consistency.
Additional Notes to Making My Suman Malagkit Recipe
If you want to get the best results with this dish, there are different options you can try. For one, you can opt for young banana leaves as they are more pliant, but if you’re using mature ones, a quick pass over flames can render them flexible. When working with frozen banana leaves, gently wash them with warm water without exposing them to flames. Similarly, there are different tips for preparing glutinous rice.
When simmering the glutinous rice in the coconut milk mixture, ensure it doesn’t fully cook, as it will undergo further cooking during the steaming process. After simmering, allow the rice to cool and set, making them easier to handle once they have firmed up a bit.
Once you have the dish ready, there are plenty of options you can try for toppings. One option you can try is to dip the rice cakes in sugar, using white, brown, washed, or Muscovado sugar for varied sweetness. Another delicious choice is to drizzle them with Coconut Caramel Sauce, also known as Latik sauce, for a rich and creamy texture. You can also use a simple Caramel Sauce. For a fun twist, consider adding a bit of chocolate syrup, making it appealing to both kids and adults.
Similar Suman Dishes
As stated, suman has various versions. In addition to suman malagkit, another distinctive variation is Suman sa Lihiya. Unlike the usual suman made by steaming glutinous rice in coconut milk, Suman sa Lihiya is unique because it includes lye water in the rice mix, giving it a different flavor. However, while there are plenty of suman dishes that use glutinous rice, another ingredient that is largely used is cassava.
One prime example of this is cassava suman. Cassava suman involves steaming a mixture of grated cassava, coconut milk, and sugar encased in banana leaves. Referred to by various names across the Philippines, it is known as ‘Sumang Kamoteng Kahoy’ among Tagalogs, ‘Suman Balinghoy’ in Bicol, ‘Bud-bud Balanghoy’ in Visaya, and ‘Kurukod’ in Samar.
Similar Dishes with Glutinous Rice
If you are interested in trying other types of Filipino treats featuring glutinous rice, one option is kalamay lansong. Kalamay Lansong is made with sticky rice flour, coconut milk, coconut cream, and sugar. Similar to Chinese Nian Gao or Tikoy in appearance, it distinguishes itself with a special topping of latik curds. Named after the bamboo steamer, or “lansong,” in which it’s traditionally cooked, this dessert stands out for its simplicity and the unique touch of latik (cooked coconut).
Another option is sapin sapin. Sapin sapin is a layered dessert made with glutinous rice and coconut. The simple recipe includes rice flour, coconut milk, sugar, water, flavorings, and coloring. Typically featuring three layers and topped with latik, each layer has its own flavor, with two layers being flavored, such as purple with ube halaya and orange/yellow with jackfruit. The traditional colors are purple, orange/yellow, and white, the latter often being unflavored or infused with coconut. While homemade versions incorporate natural flavors, commercial Sapin Sapin relies on food coloring for the layers.
Other Classic Desserts
Are you interested in trying other classic Filipino desserts? There is bibingka. Bibingka is a baked rice dish known for its soft yet firm texture, with a slightly charred top and bottom. It can be enjoyed in various ways depending on the region, with traditional toppings like sliced salted egg and cheese, or simply plain. It’s important to note that “bibingka” is a broad term that includes various Filipino baked rice cake products.
A similar type of dish is puto. Puto is a Filipino snack/dessert encompassing a variety of indigenous steamed cakes. Typically crafted from slightly fermented rice dough, these cakes are traditionally served alongside savory dishes but can be enjoyed on their own. With numerous versions to explore, a simpler variation is plain puto with cheese on top.
Overall, there are plenty of classic Filipino desserts to try and make. What’s more, there are plenty of variations to explore. These variations include Tupig and Suman Moron.
