Kutsinta Recipe (Kutchinta) - Today's Delight (2024)

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Kutsinta or kutchinta is a round, sticky brown rice cake, a popular Filipino snack made with a few ingredients and topped with grated coconut. Kutsinta is a kakanin usually sold by street vendors.

There are a few versions of Kutsinta recipe but the common ingredient is lye water to give it a chewy texture.

Kutsinta Recipe (Kutchinta) - Today's Delight (1)

I stored the kutsinta in a well sealed container for 3 days in the fridge and it came out not hard and still chewy.

Just make sure the lye water measurement is 2 teaspoons.

You may grate coconut in advance and place it in the freezer. When ready to use, leave it for a few minutes in room temperature to thaw.

Kutsinta Recipe (Kutchinta) - Today's Delight (2)

Tips in Making Kutsinta

1. After mixing all the ingredients run it through a sieve for a smooth consistency.

2. Lightly brush each mold with vegetable oil before pouring mixture.

3. Pour mixture in mold to about ¾'s full.

4. Cover steamer lid with cheese cloth or kitchen towel to absorb dripping droplets of water. You don't want water dripping in the mold.

5. When done, set it aside to fully cool.

6. Use a pointed spatula to loosen the edges. It should be completely cool, easy to remove from mold plus you get a rounder kutsinta.

7. Serve with grated coconut. Prepare grated coconut in advance, if you like.

How to Make Kutsinta

Watch my video “How to make Kutsinta”. You’ll be amaze it is easy to make and in no time you are ready to devour this delicious kakanin.

Satisfy your craving with this kutsinta recipe today! Magluto na tayo.

Kutsinta Recipe

Recipe

Kutsinta Recipe (Kutchinta) - Today's Delight (3)

Kutsinta Recipe (Kutchinta)

Kutsinta is a popular Filipino snack made with glutinous rice flour, lye water and other ingredients topped with grated coconut.

5 from 4 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Snack

Cuisine: Filipino

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes minutes

Servings: 3 people

Calories: 371kcal

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup glutinous rice flour
  • ¾ cup all purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons lye water
  • ¾ cup brown sugar
  • cup water
  • 1 teaspoon powdered achiote dissolved in 2 teaspoon of water, take the water from the 1 ½ cup water this recipe calls for or use 2 teaspoons of annatto seeds dissolved in 2 tablespoons of water
  • vegetable oil to coat mold
  • grated coconut for topping

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • In a bowl, put all the dry ingredients. The all-purpose flour, glutinous rice flour and brown sugar. Mix well.

  • Add ½ cup of water at a time to the mixture. Mix every time you add water until mixture is thoroughly dissolved and smooth.

  • Add lye water and the achiote mixture. (Note: Take the water to dissolve the achiote from the 1 ½ cup this recipe calls for.)

  • Get another bowl and pour mixture through a strainer to get rid of lumps for a smoother consistency.

  • Add 8 cups of water in the steamer. Bring to a boil.

  • Brush each mold lightly with vegetable oil and pour mixture to about ¾ full on each mold.

  • Steam for 45 minutes or poke one or two of the kutsinta with a toothpick. If toothpick comes out clean then it is cook already. Remove from heat and let it cool down before removing from the mold.

  • Use a pointed spatula to loosen it from the mold and transfer to a plate. Sprinkle the top of each kutsinta with grated fresh coconut.

  • The mold I used was almost 3 inches wide x 1 inch height and came up with 14 kutsinta. If your mold is smaller you’ll end up with more servings.

Notes

1. Wait till it cools down before using a pointed spatula to get it out of the mold. It is easier to remove it plus you get a rounder shaped kutsinta.

2. You may substitute the glutinous rice flour with tapioca starch using the same measurement.

3. Wrap the steamer lid with cheese cloth so water doesn't drip on the kutsinta making it mushy.

4. I had it in the fridge for 3 days and it was still soft to touch and chewy. But longer than 3 days I’m not really sure if texture will harden.

5. I used frozen grated coconut.

Nutrition

Serving: 4pieces | Calories: 371kcal | Carbohydrates: 88g | Protein: 4g | Sodium: 22mg | Potassium: 106mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 53g | Calcium: 54mg | Iron: 1.8mg

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Comment

  1. Myra C

    Kutsinta Recipe (Kutchinta) - Today's Delight (8)
    Recipe was easy to follow. The hints really helped. They turned out perfect!

    Reply

  2. Marie J.

    Kutsinta Recipe (Kutchinta) - Today's Delight (9)
    Easy and tasty! I thought it was hard to make kutsinta. Thank you for the recipe.

    Reply

    • Fortune

      Glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply

  3. Vivian Dulkiewicz

    Kutsinta Recipe (Kutchinta) - Today's Delight (10)
    It was a perfect kutchinta I made with your recipe a few weeks ago and I am making another one now that is why I came back to your recipe. I am using a dessicated coconut, dried one that is used when you make a macaroon. Just have it in a bowl and put water just to make it moist and sugar for the taste. Its a perfect substitute for the fresh grated coconut toping. Best regards.

    Vivian Dulkiewicz

    Reply

    • Fortune

      I'm glad it came out perfect! Enjoy your next batch. In fact, I'm craving it myself. Thank you for leaving a wonderful comment.

      Reply

Kutsinta Recipe (Kutchinta) - Today's Delight (2024)

FAQs

What is the English of Kutchinta? ›

Noun. kutsinta (a red or yellow steamed rice cake with a chewy, jelly-like consistency, popular in the Philippines).

What is the use of lye water in kutsinta? ›

The addition of lye water gives Kutsinta its distinctively chewy texture, setting it apart from other rice-based desserts. Traditionally served as a merienda (afternoon snack) or as part of a special occasion spread, Kutsinta offers a unique experience with each bite.

What is the other name for kutsinta? ›

Puto cuchinta or kutsinta is a type of steamed rice cake (puto) found throughout the Philippines.

Why is my kutsinta bitter? ›

Too much lye water or baking soda can also taste bitter. To avoid this, measure the ingredients accurately and follow the recipe instructions closely. Another possible reason for bitterness is overcooking the kutsinta.

Can I use cassava flour instead of cassava starch for kutsinta? ›

Note: Cassava starch is the same with Tapioca starch, Cassava flour.

What is the side effect of lye water? ›

Ingestion of sodium hydroxide can cause spontaneous vomiting, chest and abdominal pain, and difficulty swallowing with drooling. Corrosive injury to the mouth, throat, esophagus, and stomach is extremely rapid and may result in perforation, hemorrhage, and narrowing of the gastrointestinal tract.

What is the best substitute for lye? ›

There are plenty of easy ways to make soap without handling lye. With melt-and-pour soaps and rebatched soaps, you're working with a soap base that already has lye completely incorporated into it. You could also replace lye with baking soda to make your own soap.

What is the best substitute for lye water? ›

Salt crystals or powders that do the same job as lye water include:
  • bicarbonate soda (bicarb)
  • sodium carbonate.
  • sodium bicarbonate.
  • lye salt.
  • uvusaaru.
  • combo.
  • soda ash.
  • magadi soda.

What is the history of kutsinta in the Philippines? ›

The kutsinta was thought to have sprung up at the same time as its pasty counterpart, but the origins of its name remain a mystery. It has been theorized, however, that its name might have a connection to an obsolete piece of kitchen equipment responsible for its flattened, saucer-like shape.

What is the Tagalog of lye water? ›

But ingredients like Lye water, also known as Lihia in Filipino, are part of what ties the entire dish together.

Why is it called kutsinta? ›

According to some people, the name kutsinta is derived from a pre-colonial kitchen tool used in shaping the rice cake. Another theory is that the word comes from the Chinese Hokkien term “Kueh Tsin Tao”, the term kueh meaning “l*ttle steamed cake or cookie for snack”.

What is a substitute for lihiya? ›

A good substitute for lye water is a simple homemade lye water. You can make your own lye water at home with just baking soda and water. Baking soda is an alkaline substance, and baking the baking soda intensifies its alkaline properties.

Is tapioca starch and tapioca flour the same? ›

Okay, and this looks like it may be obvious, but Tapioca starch is Tapioca Flour. Yes. They are, in fact, the same product; they are just labeled differently from brand to brand. The fiber is removed from the starch of the dried cassava, so it is referred to as tapioca starch.

What is the function of Kutchinta? ›

These steamed rice cakes are traditionally served for breakfast, midday snack or after-meal dessert.

What are other uses for lye water? ›

Lyes are used to cure many types of food, including the traditional Nordic lutefisk, olives (making them less bitter), canned mandarin oranges, hominy, lye rolls, century eggs, pretzels, candied pumpkins, and bagels.

What is the purpose of lihiya water? ›

Lye water is an ingredient used in Asian and African cooking for cooking meat, rice or noodles and vegetables like corn, beans, maize or okra to soften or add flavour or keep vegetables colour. It is usually added as part of the recipe in small amounts (spoonfuls).

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