Palitaw is a term used to call a sweet flat rice cake that is eaten in the Philippines as a snack or dessert. Originally, grounded or pounded sticky rice is used to make this rice cake (called kakanin in the local language) – however, the practice of using packaged rice flour became common because it is more efficient.
This is made by simply mixing rice flour and water until a dough is formed. The dough is divided into small pieces then manually molded into a ball-shape figure and flattened. The flattened dough are cooked in boiling water until they float – this is the reason why it was called as such. The name was derived from the Filipino word “litaw”, which means “to float or to surface”.
I should have made this yesterday but I ran out of glutinous rice flour; I needed to go back to the Asian store this morning to replenish my stock. Glutinous rice flour is still best compared to ordinary rice flour for this recipe.
On another note, you might notice a change in the language on the video. I’ve been receiving a lot of emails from our non-Filipino speaking friends requesting to use English as the main language. I thought of giving it a try to see if it will work.
Let me know your thoughts.
Palitaw Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups glutinous rice flour
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup sesame seeds roasted
- 1 cup grated coconut
Instructions
- Combine glutinous rice flour with water and mix until a dough is formed.
- Scoop about 2 tablespoons of dough then mold it into a ball-shaped figure.
- Flatten the ball-shaped dough using the palm of your hands.
- Boil water in a cooking pot then put-in the flattened dough.
- When the flattened dough starts to float, remove them from the pot and set it aside allowing water to drip.
- Combine sugar and roasted sesame seeds then mix well.
- Roll the rice cake in grated coconut then in the sugar-sesame seed mixture.
- Arrange in a serving plate then serve. Share and enjoy!
Nutrition
Watch the cooking video
Jocelyn Magpily says
Thank you very much! My kids loved the palitaw!
Reysielyn says
Itatanong ko po sana kung normal po na magtubig ang palitaw kahit di pa siya coated with sugar? Or may paraan po ba para maiwasan siyang magtubig?
Vanjo Merano says
Since it was boiled in water, it will be wet. You can use a slotted spoon (spoon with holes) when taking it out of the pot so that water will drain. You can also gently tap with paper towel just to dry it up.
Andrea says
Proportion is perfect. I replaced the fresh coconut with desiccated coconut. I heat the desiccated coconut. Results are the same, with crunchy feeling.