Pumpkin-coconut custard (, , ; , ; , , ; , , ) is a
Southeast Asian
Southeast Asia is the geographical southeastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of China, east of the Indian subcontinent, and northwest of the Australian mainland, which is part of Oceania. Southeast Asia is ...
dessert
Dessert is a course (food), course that concludes a meal; the course consists of sweet foods, such as cake, biscuit, ice cream, and possibly a beverage, such as dessert wine or liqueur. Some cultures sweeten foods that are more commonly umami, ...
, consisting of a
coconut
The coconut tree (''Cocos nucifera'') is a member of the palm tree family (biology), family (Arecaceae) and the only living species of the genus ''Cocos''. The term "coconut" (or the archaic "cocoanut") can refer to the whole coconut palm, ...
custard
Custard is a variety of culinary preparations based on sweetened milk, cheese, or cream cooked with Eggs as food, egg or egg yolk to thicken it, and sometimes also flour, corn starch, or gelatin. Depending on the recipe, custard may vary in con ...
steam-baked in a whole
pumpkin
A pumpkin is a cultivar, cultivated winter squash in the genus ''Cucurbita''. The term is most commonly applied to round, orange-colored squash varieties, but does not possess a scientific definition. It may be used in reference to many dif ...
or
kabocha
Kabocha (; from Japanese language, Japanese , ) is a type of winter squash, a Japanese variety of the species ''Cucurbita maxima.'' It is also called kabocha squash or Japanese pumpkin in North America. In Japan, "''kabocha''" may refer to eithe ...
. It was created by
Maria Guyomar de Pinha
Maria Guyomar de Pina (; 1664 – 1728) (also known as ''Maria Guiomar de Pina'', ''Dona Maria del Pifia'' or as ''Marie Guimar'' and ''Madame Constance'' in French), Thao Thong Kip Ma (), was a Siamese woman from Ayutthaya. She was of mixed Jap ...
in
Ayutthaya Kingdom
The Ayutthaya Kingdom or the Empire of Ayutthaya was a Thai people, Thai kingdom that existed in Southeast Asia from 1351 to 1767, centered around the city of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya (city), Ayutthaya, in Siam, or present-day Thailand. Europe ...
in 17th century as an adaptation of a Portuguese egg-based dessert.
In
Thailand
Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...
, it is a popular dessert that is often sold in fresh food markets and as
street food
Street food is food sold by a Hawker (trade), hawker or vendor on a street or at another public place, such as a market, fair, or park. It is often sold from a portable food booth, food cart, or food truck and is meant for immediate consumption ...
. In
Cambodia
Cambodia, officially the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. It is bordered by Thailand to the northwest, Laos to the north, and Vietnam to the east, and has a coastline ...
, the pumpkin-coconut custard is also sold in markets and
confectionery store
A confectionery store or confectionery shop (more commonly referred to as a sweet shop in the United Kingdom, a candy shop or candy store in North America, or a lolly shop in Australia and New Zealand) is a store that sell confectionery, whose i ...
s often by the slice. It is the
centerpiece
A centrepiece or centerpiece is an important item of a display, usually of a table setting. Centrepieces help set the theme of the decorations and bring extra decorations to the room. A centrepiece also refers to any central or important object ...
of
Cambodian New Year
Cambodian New Year (or Khmer New Year; ), also known as Choul Chnam Thmey (, UNGEGN: , ALA-LC: ; ), Moha Sangkran (, UNGEGN: , ALA-LC: ; ) or Sangkran, is the traditional celebration of the solar new year in Cambodia. A three-day public ho ...
tables. In
Laos
Laos, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic (LPDR), is the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by Myanmar and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the southeast, and Thailand to the west and ...
, the dessert is a very common market food as well.
See also
*
Coconut jam
Coconut jam, also known as kaya jam or simply kaya, is a sweet spread made from a base of coconut milk, eggs, sugar and sometimes pandan leaves as a flavouring. It is popular throughout Southeast Asia.
Origin
The origins of kaya are subject ...
*
List of custard desserts
This is a list of custard desserts, containing prepared desserts that use custard as a primary ingredient. The term custard encompasses a variety of culinary preparations based on a cooked mixture of milk or cream, and egg or egg yolk.
Custard ...
*
List of squash and pumpkin dishes
This is a list of notable squash and pumpkin dishes that are prepared using Cucurbita, squash and pumpkin as a primary ingredient. Pumpkin is a squash cultivar.
Squash and pumpkin dishes and foods
* ''Hobak-juk'' – a Korean variety of ''juk ...
References
{{Laotian cuisine
Thai desserts and snacks
Cambodian desserts
Laotian desserts
Custard desserts
Coconut desserts
Squash and pumpkin desserts
Steamed foods