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

FAQs

What is the substitute for lye water in making kutsinta? ›

Lye water (or potassium carbonate) is a traditional ingredient that contributes to the unique chewy texture of Kutsinta. However, if you prefer to avoid lye water, you can substitute it with baking powder & water mixture for a slightly different texture.

Food-grade Lye water- locally known as lihiya. It softens the texture for a chewy texture and boosts color. Add sparingly as it can impart a bitter taste.

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.

Puto cuchinta or kutsinta is a type of steamed rice cake (puto) found throughout the Philippines. It is made from a mixture of tapioca or rice flour, brown sugar and lye, enhanced with yellow food coloring or annatto extract, and steamed in small ramekins.

You only need two ingredients for homemade lye water: Baked baking soda and water. Mix them at a 1:4 ratio. Then you're ready to use it! It couldn't be simpler, right?

To make lye in the kitchen, boil the ashes from a hardwood fire (soft woods are too resinous to mix with fat) in a little soft water, rainwater is best, for about half an hour. Allow the ashes to settle to the bottom of the pan and then skim the liquid lye off the top.

To ensure the lye works properly, we recommend using it within one year of purchasing. It needs to be sealed tightly and stored in a dry place. Lye is hygroscopic, meaning it attracts moisture. If it's exposed to moisture in the air it won't be as effective in your recipe, and the soap may not saponify fully.

A 4-6 cup lye resistant container for mixing lye and water. This container must be made of stainless steel, glass or heat resistant (212 degrees F) plastic. It must not be made of aluminum or tin. A soap mold - can be anything from a Rubbermaid(tm) type container to a wooden tray or even a heavy duty cardboard box.

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

What is the difference between black Kutsinta and kutsinta? ›

Black Kutsinta is made the same way as my Kutsinta, with tapioca flour, all-purpose flour, and brown sugar. But instead of using annatto, these sticky round cakes are made using blackstrap molasses. It is extra delicious with a rich and smoky flavor, even more so when topped with sweet sesame and coconut toppings.

The word 'Kutsinta' comes from the Chinese word 'Kueh Tsin Tao'. The word 'Kush' in Hokkien language means a little cake or cookie for snack, more often steamed than baked. Hokkien originated from a dialect in Southern Fujian, China where most of our early Chinese ancestors came from.

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.

Two common causes of this are using continuous high heat during steaming and water getting into the cake. For a smooth and silky texture, use the lowest heat for gentle steaming. To prevent the water from dripping into the cake, wrap the lid with a damp kitchen towel.

Just spread a layer of soda on a foil-covered baking sheet and bake it at 250 to 300 degrees for an hour. You'll lose about a third of the soda's weight in water and carbon dioxide, but you gain a stronger alkali.

Lye water also known as kansui, is a food grade potent liquid alkaline – a food grade potassium carbonate solution. Lye water gives ramen noodles their distinctive yellow colour, and whippy texture while helping to prevent the noodles from disintegrating in the broth.

Melt and pour soap is made without ever touching lye yourself. Purchase the premade soap base, cut it into chunks, and melt it down on the stove top until it becomes liquid. Then, stir in whatever your little soaping heart desires. The melted base is poured into a soap mold, and left to cool and harden back up.