Gluten-free Puto Bumbong recipe

Puto Bumbong is a traditional Philippine dessert, often served during the Christmas season. This steamed purple rice cake, traditionally made in bamboo tubes ( bumbong ), has a chewy texture and a slightly sweet taste. The filling is made from grated coconut, butter and muscovado sugar. Naturally gluten-free thanks to its glutinous rice flour base, this dessert is a perfect option for people following a gluten-free diet.

Cooking method: Expert cook , traditional

Difficulty: intermediary

Servings: 4

Ingredients

For the rice cakes:
200 g glutinous rice flour
50 g purple rice flour (or a few drops of purple food coloring or beet juice if unavailable)
100 ml coconut milk
50 ml of water
1/4 tsp salt
For the garnish:
100 g grated and rehydrated coconut if dry (or grated cheese for a Filipino version)
50 g melted butter (or vegetable margarine)
50 g muscovado or brown sugar
For cooking:
Banana leaves (optional, for presentation)
Steam cooker or couscous maker

Preparation

1
Prepare the dough: In a large bowl, combine the glutinous rice flour, purple rice flour, salt, coconut milk and water. Mix until you obtain a thick and homogeneous paste. If you don't have purple rice flour, add a few drops of purple food coloring or beet juice to recreate the traditional shade of Puto Bumbong.
2
Form the rolls: Take a small portion of dough (about a tablespoon) and shape it into a small roll or cylinder, about 8 to 10 cm long. Repeat until the dough is used up.
3
Steam cooking: Heat water in a steam cooker or couscous maker. Place the rolls on a rack or directly on banana leaves or parchment paper placed in the steamer. Steam for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the rolls are tender and slightly translucent.
4
Presentation and garnish: Once cooked, place the Puto Bumbong on banana leaves for a traditional presentation. Brush them with melted butter to give them a nice shine. Sprinkle generously with grated coconut and muscovado sugar or grated cheese for an even more typical version.

Keywords: Philippine Puto Bumbong Puto recipe, gluten -free rice cake recipe