''Puto cuchinta'' or ''kutsinta'' is a type of

steamed Steaming is a method of cooking using steam. This is often done with a food steamer, a kitchen appliance made specifically to cook food with steam, but food can also be steamed in a wok. In the American southwest, steam pits used for cooking hav ...

rice cake A rice cake may be any kind of food item made from rice that has been shaped, condensed, or otherwise combined into a single object. A wide variety of rice cakes exist in many different cultures in which rice is eaten and are particularly preval ...

('' puto'') found throughout the

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

. It is made from a mixture of

tapioca Tapioca (; ) is a starch extracted from the storage roots of the cassava plant (''Manihot esculenta,'' also known as manioc), a species native to the North and Northeast regions of Brazil, but whose use is now spread throughout South America ...

rice flour Rice flour (also rice powder) is a form of flour made from finely milled rice. It is distinct from rice starch, which is usually produced by steeping rice in lye. Rice flour is a common substitute for wheat flour. It is also used as a thickening ...

brown sugar Brown sugar is unrefined or partially refined soft sugar. Brown Sugar may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Brown Sugar'' (1922 film), a 1922 British silent film directed by Fred Paul * ''Brown Sugar'' (1931 film), a 1931 ...

and

lye A lye is a metal hydroxide traditionally obtained by leaching wood ashes, or a strong alkali which is highly soluble in water producing caustic basic solutions. "Lye" most commonly refers to sodium hydroxide (NaOH), but historically has been u ...

, enhanced with yellow

food coloring Food coloring, or color additive, is any dye, pigment, or substance that imparts color when it is added to food or drink. They come in many forms consisting of liquids, powders, gels, and pastes. Food coloring is used in both commercial food ...

or annatto extract, and steamed in small ramekins. It bears resemblance to the Burmese '' mont kywe the'' and Indonesian and Malaysian '' kuih kosui''. The cooked cakes are topped with fresh grated meat from mature coconut. It is consumed year-round as a ''

merienda Merienda is a light meal in southern Europe, particularly Spain (merenda in Galician, berenar in Catalan), Portugal (lanche or merenda) and Italy (merenda), as well as Hispanic America, Philippines (meryenda/merienda), North Africa (Morocco), ...

'' or snack, and is frequently sold along with '' puto''. Unlike its counterpart, which has a doughy texture, ''kutsina'' has a jelly-like, chewy consistency. It can be also enhanced by adding ''

latik ''Latík'' () refers to two different coconut-based ingredients in Filipino cuisine Filipino cuisine ( fil, lutong Pilipino/pagkaing Pilipino) is composed of the cuisines of more than a hundred distinct ethnolinguistic groups found thr ...

'' for a sweeter taste.

Preparation

Add the lye water to the melted brown sugar. Then, mix it with the glutinous rice flour and rice flour until dissolved thoroughly. Strain after to remove lumps; you may add a red liquid food color. Brush the mold with vegetable oil and steam it until the top is set when touched. After removing from heat, cool it down before removing from the mold using a

spatula A spatula is a broad, flat, flexible blade used to mix, spread and lift material including foods, drugs, plaster and paints. In medical applications, "spatula" may also be used synonymously with tongue depressor. The word ''spatula'' derives f ...

. Lastly, top it with grated coconut or use it as a dip. It can also be substituted with grated cheese or a yema sauce.

References

{{Rice dishes Philippine desserts Philippine rice dishes Foods containing coconut Steamed foods Rice cakes

Preparation

See also

References