Palitaw facts for kids
Package of Palitaw
|
|
| Type | Rice cake |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Philippines |
| Main ingredients | Glutinous rice, coconut, mascobado, sesame seeds |
| Similar dishes | Buchi, Mache, Masi, Moche |
Palitaw (pronounced pah-LEE-tahw) is a yummy, flat, and sweet rice cake from the Philippines. Its name comes from the Tagalog word litaw, which means "to float" or "to rise." This is because of how it's cooked!
What is Palitaw?
Palitaw is a traditional Filipino dessert. It's a type of rice cake that's soft and chewy. People often enjoy it as a snack or a sweet treat after a meal. It's a simple dish but full of flavor.
How Palitaw is Made
Palitaw is made from a special kind of rice called galapong. This is sticky rice (also known as glutinous rice) that has been washed, soaked in water, and then ground into a smooth batter.
Here's how it's usually made:
- First, the ground rice batter is left to drain. This removes any extra water.
- Next, small scoops of the thick batter are rolled into balls.
- These balls are then flattened into a circular or oval shape. They look a bit like small, flat pancakes.
- The flat cakes are dropped into boiling water.
- When they are fully cooked, they float to the surface of the water. This is the signal that they are ready!
Serving Palitaw
Once the palitaw cakes float, they are carefully taken out of the hot water. Before serving, they are usually rolled in freshly grated coconut. This gives them a lovely tropical taste and texture.
Palitaw is often served with a separate mix of sugar and toasted sesame seeds. You can dip the palitaw into this sweet and nutty topping. The combination of the chewy rice cake, the fresh coconut, and the sweet sesame mix is delicious!
Types of Palitaw
While the classic palitaw is very popular, there are also different versions. For example, some people make Chocolate Palitaw. This version is made in the same way but has chocolate flavor added to the batter. Many small businesses sell these tasty chocolate palitaw treats.
See also
- In Spanish: Palitaw para niños
