Vietnamese Rice Cakes In Banana Leaves Recipes

VIETNAMESE RICE CAKES IN BANANA LEAVES

Steps:

• 1. Place the sticky rice in a large bowl and cover it with 3 inches of water. Stir in the food coloring, if using, and let the rice soak overnight. (Once soaked, the rice will double to about 4 cups.) In a separate bowl, soak the mung beans for at least 4 hours. Drain both just before using and set aside in separate bowls. Add the salt to the rice and stir to blend.
• 2. Combine the shallots, fish sauce, black pepper and pork pieces and let marinate for 30 minutes.
• 3. Heat the oil in a frying pan over moderate heat. Add the pork pieces and all the marinade and stir just until the meat is brown around the edges, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and set aside.
• 4. Using a steamer basket, steam the mung beans until they are soft, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• 5. To make the packet, neatly lay down the wrappers in this order: 1 sheet of plastic wrap (leave the other for use later), the aluminum foil, 2 sheets banana leaves (one perpendicular to the other). Place one cup of the rice in the center of the banana leaf, spreading it to cover a 5-inch square. Place half of the mung beans on top, then add the pork pieces. Cover with the remaining mung beans and place 1 cup of rice on top. Bring the narrow sides of the wrappers together. Fold the gathered edges over twice, then flatten against the packet. (You now have two open ends.) Fold one end over and hold the packet upright. Add half of the remaining rice, tapping it and pushing it down so the packet will be an even square. Fold the end over and repeat on the other side.
• 6. Place the packet with the folded sides down in the center of the remaining plastic sheet. Wrap tightly so that water will not seep into the packet during cooking.
• 7. Tightly tie the packet with two parallel strings in both directions (as in a tic-tac-toe pattern).
• 8. Fill a large stockpot with water. Add the packet and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer. Place a colander or something heavy on top of the packet to keep it submerged in the water. Cook uncovered until done, about 6 hours, adding more water if necessary. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool for 1 hour.
• 9. To serve, cut the packet (without unwrapping) into 1/2-inch slices. Remove the wrapping and arrange the slices on a serving plate. Serve warm or at room temperature. If wrapped in plastic and refrigerated, the cake will keep for 1 week.

BIBINGKA (COCONUT RICE CAKES WITH BANANA LEAVES)

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325 degrees and center racks.
• Line two 8-inch cast-iron skillets or similar pans with banana leaves: Set 2 large sheets in each pan, allowing banana leaves to overlap in the center and come up the sides. Cut off any overhang that extends more than 1/2 inch beyond the lip of the skillet. Melt the butter, and add 1 tablespoon melted butter to each skillet, brushing it to coat the bottom and sides, reserving the remaining melted butter for the cake.
• In a small bowl, mix together the cream cheese and Parmesan; set aside.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the rice flour, sugar and baking powder.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the coconut milk, eggs and the remaining 6 tablespoons melted butter. Add about a third of the flour mixture and stir to combine. Repeat twice, integrating dry ingredients into wet ingredients, stirring until combined.
• Pour half the cake batter into each buttered skillet and smooth each into an even layer.
• Bake the cakes for 30 minutes, until set around the edges but the surface of the center is puffy and not fully cooked through, rotating the cakes halfway through cooking.
• Remove the cakes from the oven. Form the cream cheese mixture into about 10 1/2-inch-thick logs. Top each cake with a few slices of duck egg coins in the center, then arrange five cream cheese logs on each cake, radiating outward from the center of each cake, like the arms of a starfish. (The logs will sink in lightly on the top, but should not sink in fully.) Return the cakes to the oven to continue baking for 10 minutes more, then increase the temperature to 400 degrees and cook until the top is a deep golden and cakes are fully set, 10 to 15 minutes. The cakes will be lightly domed and should spring back when touched.
• Let cool 10 minutes then cut into slices. Serve warm or at room temperature.

BANH CHUNG (VIETNAMESE RICE CAKE)

Steps:

• You will also need: Strings and 6 phrynium leaves or aluminum foil can be used as substitute.
• Steam or boil mung bean with half a tsp of salt until soft, may take up to 45 minutes depending on how large your steamer is.
• Smash bean thoroughly.
• Place 2 leaves in one direction, slightly overlapping, then 2 perpendicular, also overlapping, and the last layer like the first.
• If use aluminum foil, place them crossing each other.
• Place half of the rice on the leaves, topped with half of the mung beans.
• Lay the pork on top of the beans, and then add the last of the beans followed by last of the rice.
• Fold the leaves/foils over the cake very tightly into a square, use string to secure the cake.
• Place in a large pot, cover with water and boil for about 6 hours.
• Add water every hour if necessary.
• After 6 hours or so, remove the cake, submerge it into cold water for a few minutes.
• The cake lasts up to 10 days on a cool dry place.
• The easiest way to cut up the cake is to open it and use the string to cut it up into 8 portions.
• Best served with pickled onions.