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Putli mandi
Alternative names Putlimandi, putli'mandi', putli-mandi, putlihmandi
Type Rice cake
Place of origin Philippines
Region or state Sulu

Putli mandi is a special steamed rice cake from the Philippines. It's a sweet dessert that comes from the Tausug and Yakan people, who live in the Sulu region. This yummy treat is made from a special kind of dough, usually from sticky rice. Sometimes, it can also be made with cassava.

The dough is rolled into small balls. Inside these balls is a sweet filling made from coconut strips. This filling is called hinti. Putli mandi is often a deep purple color. This color comes from a traditional type of sticky rice called pulut. But today, people sometimes add food coloring to make it purple. Before you eat it, fresh grated coconut is sprinkled on top.

What is Putli Mandi?

Putli mandi is a popular dessert in the southern Philippines. It's a type of rice cake, which means it's made mainly from rice. The cake is soft and chewy. It has a delicious sweet taste from the coconut filling. People enjoy it as a snack or a sweet ending to a meal.

The Special Ingredients

The main part of putli mandi is its dough. This dough is usually made from glutinous rice. Glutinous rice is a type of rice that becomes very sticky when cooked. This stickiness helps the dough hold its shape. Sometimes, people use cassava instead of rice. Cassava is a root vegetable, and it also makes a good, chewy dough.

The filling is very important too. It's called hinti. Hinti is made from coconut meat that has been sweetened. It gives putli mandi its rich, tropical flavor.

Where Does Putli Mandi Come From?

Putli mandi has a long history in the Sulu region of the Philippines. It is a traditional food of the Tausug people and the Yakan people. These groups have been making this dessert for many years. It is a part of their culture and traditions.

The Meaning of Its Name

The name "Putli mandi" comes from the Tausug language. In Tausug, "putli" means "princess." The word "mandi" means "bath." So, the name "Putli mandi" can be thought of as "princess's bath." This name might describe how the rice balls look when they are steamed.

How Is Putli Mandi Different?

Putli mandi is similar to another Filipino dessert called pichi-pichi. Both are steamed rice cakes. However, there is one main difference. Putli mandi always has a sweet filling inside, like the hinti coconut strips. Pichi-pichi, on the other hand, usually does not have a filling. This makes putli mandi unique with its hidden sweet center.

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