Bibingka Coconut Rice Cakes With Banana Leaves Recipes

BIBINGKA (COCONUT RICE CAKES WITH BANANA LEAVES)

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325 degrees and center racks.
• Line two 8-inch cast-iron skillets or similar pans with banana leaves: Set 2 large sheets in each pan, allowing banana leaves to overlap in the center and come up the sides. Cut off any overhang that extends more than 1/2 inch beyond the lip of the skillet. Melt the butter, and add 1 tablespoon melted butter to each skillet, brushing it to coat the bottom and sides, reserving the remaining melted butter for the cake.
• In a small bowl, mix together the cream cheese and Parmesan; set aside.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the rice flour, sugar and baking powder.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the coconut milk, eggs and the remaining 6 tablespoons melted butter. Add about a third of the flour mixture and stir to combine. Repeat twice, integrating dry ingredients into wet ingredients, stirring until combined.
• Pour half the cake batter into each buttered skillet and smooth each into an even layer.
• Bake the cakes for 30 minutes, until set around the edges but the surface of the center is puffy and not fully cooked through, rotating the cakes halfway through cooking.
• Remove the cakes from the oven. Form the cream cheese mixture into about 10 1/2-inch-thick logs. Top each cake with a few slices of duck egg coins in the center, then arrange five cream cheese logs on each cake, radiating outward from the center of each cake, like the arms of a starfish. (The logs will sink in lightly on the top, but should not sink in fully.) Return the cakes to the oven to continue baking for 10 minutes more, then increase the temperature to 400 degrees and cook until the top is a deep golden and cakes are fully set, 10 to 15 minutes. The cakes will be lightly domed and should spring back when touched.
• Let cool 10 minutes then cut into slices. Serve warm or at room temperature.

BIBINGKA (FILIPINO COCONUT-RICE CAKE)

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk together rice flours, baking powder, salt and sugar. Make a well in the center and pour in melted butter, coconut milk and eggs. Whisk mixture until smooth.
• Wash and dry banana leaf, if using, and line a 9-inch cast-iron skillet with it. (One leaf should be enough, but if more are needed, make sure to overlap leaves so there are no gaps.) Butter the leaf, and trim edges leaving a 1- to 2-inch overhang. Alternatively, generously grease skillet with butter.
• Pour mixture into skillet and bake 15 minutes. Remove from oven and top with salted egg and cheese. Return skillet to oven until bibingka is golden and browned, and a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes more. Brush with more melted butter and sprinkle with coconut, if desired.

BIBINGKA (FILIPINO RICE CAKE)

Steps:

• Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat to 375°F (190°C). If using banana leaf, rinse banana leaf pieces under cold running water and pat dry with paper towels. Working with one piece of banana leaf at a time, hold banana leaf with tongs about 2 inches above medium-high flame of a gas burner, turning every 3 to 5 seconds, until soft and pliable, about 15 seconds. Transfer to a plate and repeat with remaining piece of banana leaf. Place banana leaf pieces in an 8-inch anodized aluminum cake pan or cast iron skillet, arranging them in an overlapping configuration to completely cover the bottom and sides of the pan, pressing down on them with your hands to ensure they are flush with the pan. Brush evenly with 1/2 ounce (1 tablespoon; 15g) melted butter and set aside. Alternatively, if not using banana leaf, grease an 8-inch anodized aluminum cake pan or cast iron skillet with melted butter or pan spray and line with parchment ; set aside.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together white rice flour, sweet rice flour, baking powder, and salt until well combined, about 1 minute. This dry mixture will look homogeneous well before it truly is, so use patience at this stage, and whisk longer than may seem necessary.
• In a large bowl, whisk together 1 ounce (2 tablespoons; 30g) melted butter, sugar, coconut milk, and egg, until sugar is dissolved and mixture is thoroughly combined. Add flour mixture to coconut milk mixture and whisk together until completely smooth and no dry flour remains, about 1 minute. Using a flexible spatula, fold batter once or twice from the bottom up, then scrape into prepared pan.
• Bake until batter is beginning to set at the edges, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven and evenly distribute macapuno in a single layer over top. Return pan to oven and continue to bake until cake is puffed, edges are lightly browned, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with few moist crumbs attached, or to an internal temperature of around 200°F (93°C), about 12 minutes.
• Remove from oven and preheat broiler. Brush top of cake with remaining melted butter and lightly sprinkle sugar evenly over top. Broil until cake is golden brown and macapuno is slightly caramelized, about 2 minutes.
• Transfer pan to a wire rack and cool for 10 minutes. Run a butter knife along edges to loosen, then invert onto a wire rack, remove banana leaves or parchment, and place cake right side up on serving platter. Serve warm.