Kue talam facts for kids
Minang version of coconut sugar flavoured kue talam with white-brown colour, cut in rectangular form
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| Alternative names | Talam, kuih talam |
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| Type | Steamed sweet coconut layered cake |
| Course | Snack |
| Place of origin | Indonesia |
| Region or state | Nationwide |
| Serving temperature | Room temperature |
| Main ingredients | Rice flour, coconut milk, sugar |
Kue talam is a delicious traditional snack from Indonesia. It's a type of kue, which means a traditional cake or snack. The name talam comes from the Indonesian word for "tray," because it's often cooked in a tray-shaped mold.
This yummy treat is made by steaming a mix of rice flour, coconut milk, and other ingredients. You can find kue talam all over Indonesia. Different regions, like Betawi, Minang, and Javanese, have their own special versions. It even traveled to Lower Myanmar, where it's called kway talan.
Kue talam usually has two layers. The top layer is white and tastes a bit savory and creamy from the coconut milk. The bottom layer is colorful and sweet, with different flavors. Green pandan, yellow yam, and brown coconut sugar are some of the most popular flavors.
Contents
What's Inside Kue Talam?
The main ingredients for kue talam are rice flour, coconut milk, sugar, salt, and pandan leaves. Other ingredients are added to give the bottom layer its special color and taste.
The white top layer is simple. It uses more coconut milk, rice flour, sugar, and salt. This makes it taste a little savory and creamy. The bottom layer is a bit firmer and gets its color from extra ingredients.
How is Kue Talam Made?
First, the colorful bottom layer mixture is poured into a mold. It's steamed until it's partly cooked. Then, the white top layer is added on top. The whole thing is steamed again until it's fully cooked.
Traditionally, a rectangular tray-shaped mold was used. This is why it's called talam (tray). When served, the cake is cut into square or rectangular pieces. Today, people often use smaller, individual cups. These cups can be made from ceramic, aluminum, plastic, or melamine.
Different Kinds of Kue Talam
Most kue talam are sweet. They always have the white top layer and a colored bottom layer. The color and flavor of the bottom part can change a lot!
Sweet Flavors
- Green: This green color comes from the juice of suji or pandan leaves.
- Brown: The brown color comes from gula merah or gula jawa, which is coconut sugar.
- Yellow: Yellow kue talam gets its color from red or yellow sweet potato, pumpkin, or corn.
- Purple: The purple color comes from ubi ungu or purple yam or taro.
Savory Surprises
While most kue talam are sweet, there's also a savory and salty kind! This special version uses ebi, which are dried shrimp, for flavor. It's called talam udang, or "shrimp talam," and is a popular snack in Betawi cooking from Jakarta.
