Cherry & Dennis Helper Habitat
Sri Lankan Rice-Coconut Pittu
斯里蘭卡椰絲米粉筒 Pittu
Recipe overview
Loose rice-flour and coconut layers steamed into cylinders.
01
Ingredients
Main ingredients
- 300 g roasted rice flour
- 120 g fresh grated coconut
- 220 ml warm water
Seasoning
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 200 ml coconut milk
02
Tools
- large bowl
- fine sieve
- pittu steamer tube
- steaming pot
- wooden spoon
03
Steps
Step 1
Sift roasted rice flour
Sift 300 g roasted rice flour to remove obvious large lumps.
Step 2
Mix in salt
Mix 1/2 tsp salt through the rice flour so it is evenly seasoned.
Step 3
Sprinkle warm water gradually
Sprinkle about 220 ml warm water into the flour gradually, a little at a time.
Step 4
Rub into damp loose crumbs
Rub the damp flour with fingertips into loose small crumbs; do not knead it into an elastic dough.
Step 5
Check mixture is granular, not dough
A handful should briefly hold when squeezed and crumble with a light touch; add drops of water only if too dry.
Step 6
Heat steamer to a full steam
Bring water in the steamer to a strong steady steam and warm the pittu tube before filling.
Step 7
Layer coconut at base of tube
Put a thin layer of fresh grated coconut from the total 120 g at the base of the tube.
Step 8
Alternate damp flour and coconut
Add a loose layer of damp rice crumbs, then a thin layer of coconut; repeat the layers.
Step 9
Fill loosely without compressing
Fill the tube only about four-fifths to nine-tenths, without compressing, so steam can pass through.
Step 10
Attach tube to steamer
Secure the filled tube on the steamer and maintain strong steam once the joint is stable.
Step 11
Steam until steam emerges on top and flour is cooked
Steam until vapour flows steadily from the top and the centre flour is cooked with no raw-flour smell.
Step 12
Push out cylinders and serve with coconut milk
Carefully push out the cooked pittu cylinder, slice it and serve four portions with 200 ml coconut milk.
Common mistakes
- Dry flour
- Over-wet flour
- Packed tube
Tips
Aim for damp sand crumbs, not a solid dough.
