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Puso

A traditional Visayan staple of rice boiled inside woven coconut leaf pouches, yielding a dense and portable rice cake.

75 minMediumServes 4180 cal/serving

FilipinoSideStovetopVeganVegetarianHalal-friendlyKosher-styleGluten-FreeNut-FreeDairy-FreeSoy-FreeEgg-FreeShellfish-FreeSesame-FreeLow-SodiumLow-SugarPork-FreeAlcohol-FreeNightshade-FreeCorn-Free

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Ingredients

  • 2 cups uncooked white rice, rinsed
  • 8 cups water
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 8 woven coconut leaf pouches, cleaned

Instructions

  1. 1

    Rinse 2 cups rinsed uncooked white rice under cold water until clear, then drain well.

  2. 2

    Fill each of the 8 cleaned woven coconut leaf pouches half full with uncooked white rice to allow expansion.

  3. 3

    Bring a large pot of 8 cups water mixed with 1 tsp salt to a rolling boil.

  4. 4

    Submerge filled woven coconut leaf pouches completely into the boiling water.

  5. 5

    Boil continuously for 45 minutes until the rice expands and hardens.

  6. 6

    Remove woven coconut leaf pouches from the water and hang to drain and cool completely.

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Questions

How long does Puso take?

As written, 75 minutes: 30 of prep and 45 of cooking. The longest single stretch is step 5 (45 minutes): "Boil continuously for 45 minutes until the rice expands and hardens."

Do I need to rinse the grain for Puso?

Step 1 reads: "Rinse 2 cups rinsed uncooked white rice under cold water until clear, then drain well." Yes. Step 1 washes off what coats the grain: surface starch on rice, which makes it clump and turn gummy, or the bitter natural coating on quinoa. Rinse until the water runs mostly clear.

How many calories are in Puso?

One serving (the recipe makes 4) is about 180 calories, with 4 g protein, 40 g carbohydrate and 1 g fat, plus 1 g fiber and 150 mg sodium. The figures are estimates computed from the ingredient list.

How long does Puso keep?

Refrigerate what is left of Puso within two hours and eat it within three days. Reheat gently on the stovetop. The grain firms up as it chills; add a spoonful of water before reheating.

Can I halve or double Puso?

Yes. As written it serves 4. Halved, the rice drops from 2 cups to 1 cup; doubled, it is 4 cups. Every line in this entry carries its half and double quantity, and the app's batch dial rewrites them inside each step. When doubling on the stovetop, use your widest pan or work in two batches so the food sears instead of steaming.

Serve it with

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