Cherry & Dennis Helper Habitat
Hainanese Yi Bua Coconut Kueh
海南薏粑 Yi Bua
Recipe overview
Soft glutinous-rice dough wraps palm-sugar coconut, peanuts, sesame and ginger, then steams on banana leaves.
01
Ingredients
Main ingredients
- 240 g glutinous rice flour
- 180 ml hot water for dough
- 125 g fresh grated coconut
- 85 g palm sugar
- 70 g plain peanuts
- 20 g white sesame seeds
- 15 g ginger
- 12 squares banana leaves
Seasoning
- 30 g sugar for dough
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp cooking oil for leaves
02
Tools
- dry pan
- small saucepan
- blender
- large bowl
- spatula
- steamer pot
- steamer rack
03
Steps
Step 1
Toast peanuts in a dry pan about 5 minutes until fragrant
Toast peanuts in a dry pan about 5 minutes until fragrant; cool and grind coarsely.
Step 2
Toast sesame in the same pan about 2 minutes until lightly golden
Toast sesame in the same pan about 2 minutes until lightly golden, then remove.
Step 3
Chop palm sugar
Chop palm sugar, shred ginger finely, and wash and dry banana-leaf squares.
Step 4
Melt palm sugar with 2 tbsp water in a small pan
Melt palm sugar with 2 tbsp water in a small pan; add coconut and ginger and cook about 5 minutes.
Step 5
Stir in chopped peanuts and sesame
Stir in chopped peanuts and sesame; spread the filling out to cool.
Step 6
Mix glutinous rice flour
Mix glutinous rice flour, sugar and salt, then add hot water gradually.
Step 7
Work into a soft
Work into a soft, non-sticky dough, adding a splash more water only if too dry.
Step 8
Divide dough into 12
Divide dough into 12; flatten each into a disc and place one portion of coconut filling in the centre.
Step 9
Close and pinch the dough firmly around the filling
Close and pinch the dough firmly around the filling, shaping a rounded parcel.
Step 10
Lightly oil each banana-leaf square
Lightly oil each banana-leaf square, sit one parcel on each and arrange on the steamer rack.
Step 11
Steam over boiling water about 12 to 15 minutes
Steam over boiling water about 12 to 15 minutes until the dough is fully cooked and soft.
Step 12
Cool briefly and serve
Cool briefly and serve; remove the inedible banana leaves before eating.
Common mistakes
- Grinding hot peanuts into paste
- Filling dough with hot coconut
- Loose seals leak during steaming
Tips
Cool the filling and keep dough thickness even; banana leaf is a steaming base, not food.
