Ampaw facts for kids
Dyed ampaw
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| Alternative names | Ampao, arroz inflado, pop rice, puffed rice, popped rice |
|---|---|
| Course | Snack |
| Place of origin | Philippines |
| Region or state | Visayas |
| Serving temperature | Room temperature |
| Main ingredients | Rice |
Ampaw is a sweet and crunchy snack from the Philippines. It is also known as ampao or arroz inflado. Many people call it "pop rice" or "puffed rice." This tasty treat is a type of rice cake made from puffed rice.
Ampaw is traditionally created using leftover cooked white rice. This rice is dried in the sun, then fried until it puffs up. After frying, it gets coated with a sweet syrup.
Where Does the Name Come From?
The word Ampáw means "puffed grain" in many languages spoken in the Philippines. Most often, it refers to puffed rice. However, you can also call popcorn ampáw na mais, which means "puffed corn."
It's important not to confuse this snack with another word, ampaw (or angpao). That other word refers to the red envelopes used for money gifts in Chinese culture. Even though they sound similar, they come from different origins.
How is Ampaw Made?
Making ampaw starts with cooked white rice, often leftovers.
- First, the cooked rice is spread out to dry in the sun. This usually takes about four hours.
- Next, the dried rice is fried in hot oil. This makes the rice grains puff up and become light.
- After frying, the oil is carefully drained away.
While the rice cools, a sweet glaze is made.
- This glaze uses ingredients like muscovado sugar (a type of brown sugar) or molasses.
- Sometimes, corn syrup, salt, butter, and a little bit of vinegar or calamansi juice are added.
- The warm glaze is then poured over the puffed rice.
- Everything is mixed well so that every grain is covered.
- Finally, the mixture is allowed to cool. Before it gets completely hard, it's shaped into blocks or balls.
Traditional ampaw is usually white. But today, you can find many colorful versions. These bright colors make them even more appealing, especially to kids!
Different Kinds of Ampaw
Ampaw is a very flexible snack. You can easily add other ingredients to change its flavor.
- Some popular additions include roasted peanuts.
- You might also find it with pinipig, which is toasted young rice.
- Even chocolate can be mixed in for a richer taste.
Ampaw can also be made with different kinds of rice.
- While white rice is common, some versions use brown rice.
- You can also find ampaw made from black rice.
See also
In Spanish: Pastel de arroz inflado para niños
