Happy Monday!
It's been snowing much these days. I honestly thought, seeing previous months were rather mild, Winter would be shorter this year. Meh. Nope. After 2 weeks of super warm, melted most of snow, flooded everywhere, now it's non stop snowing again. Winter is definitely back. What was I thinking anyway, when Winter is most of the time until end of May or 1st if not 2nd week of June 😩
I made Kue Talam, one of my favorites of traditional cakes of South East Asia. In Indonesia, you would see vendors selling them in rather giant round molds, which often make me wonder on how one can steam the cake in such giant molds, as that would require giant steamer pan to hold the mold 🤔
Whenever I steam any kinds of cakes, you would find me mentioning how you should wrap the lid with clean towel, to avoid water drips on your cake, right. Now, for this following cake, I was thinking of vanilla layer on top, chocolate mocha layer on bottom. However, while steaming the cake, my clean towel touched the surface of the chocolate layer, so it kinda peeled off a thin layer of the chocolate cake. For better look, I flipped the cake, just so you know 🤣 I'm honest 🤣 Well, actually, just in case you watch the vlog and confused 🤣
1st layer
1 1/2 c rice flour
1/4 c corn starch
1/2 c custard powder
1 c sugar
1 c coconut milk (1/2 can of 400 ml)
2 1/2 c water
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 tsp vanilla essence
A generous pinch of salt
Mix everything with spatula or balloon whisk, until completely combined. Strain if you must. Bring to simmer, while continuously stirring, to avoid uneven thickening mixture. You want to JUST warm up the mixture. Pour mixture into a pan that's been lined up with oiled banana leaf. Steam for 20 minutes.
On 10 minute-mark, prepare the 2nd layer
1 c coconut milk (the leftover)
2 c water
1 c flour
1/4 c cornstarch
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 sugar
A generous pinch of salt
1 tbsp cocoa powder, mixed with 1 heaping tsp Mocha paste, in 4 tbsp lukewarm water
Same method as the other layer, mix everything until completely combined, strain if you must, also simmer until warmed up, stirring continuously, without letting mixture to curdled.
Take off steamer lid and with a fork, make indentation on the 1st layer, then pour 2nd layer. This indention will help the 2nd layer to attach to the 1st layer. Cover with lid again, and steam for another 20 minutes.
Cool to room temperature completely, before slicing and serving
Enjoy!