How to Make Special Puto

Puto is a steamed rice muffin which is popular as snack or dessert in the Philippines. In its traditional form, puto is of a plain white color. Adding certain common Filipino ingredients like coconut milk, ube and pandan (made from pandan leaves) slightly changes the flavor and completely changes the color of the finished product.

Some other variations of steamed rice muffin (Puto) are Puto Bumbong, Puto Calasiao, Puto Lanson, Puto Mamon, Puto Manapla, Puto Maya, Puto-Pao, Puto Seko, Puto ube and a lot more.

Making and selling puto and kutsinta are hit business opportunities because (1) they are ridiculously easy to make; (2) they require very little capital; (3) you can mark them up to as high as 300 percent but (4) they will still be affordable to the masses.

Special Puto Recipe

Materials:
Steamer
Mixing bowl
Strainer
Muffin pan
Measuring cups and spoons
Wooden spoon or wire whisk

Puto Ingredients:
2 cups rice flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoon baking powder
2 cups coconut milk
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon anise seeds (optional)
1 cup grated coconut (or coconut flakes)

Getting started:

1. Sift the rice flour, salt, baking powder and white sugar together.

2. In a bowl, add the coconut milk to the sifted ingredients and blend until the mixture is smooth.

3. Add anise seeds or whatever flavoring you wish (i.e. vanilla, pandan, etc.) Mix and blend thoroughly.

4. Carefully pour the mixture into the muffin pans (greased with butter beforehand), making sure you leave 1/3 space at the top. This is to give the puto space to expand upon cooking.

5. Steam for about 30 minutes.

6. Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center of each puto—the toothpick must come out clean.

7. Top with grated coconuts.


Special Puto Cheese

Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup all purpose-flour
- 1/2 cup cake-flour
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 2 pcs egg yolks
- 3/4 cup white sugar, divided
- 1/3 cup water
- 1/3 cup evaporated milk
- 1/4 tsp. vanilla
- 2 pcs egg whites
- 2 tbsp. cheese, grated

Procedure: How to make Puto cheese

Step 1. In a medium mixing bowl, sift all purpose flour, cake flour, baking powder and salt three times. Set aside.
Step 2. Beat yolks until lemon colored. Add 1/2 cup sugar gradually and continue beating.
Step 3. Fold in flour mixture to egg yolks alternately with water and milk. Add vanilla. Set aside.
Step 4. Meanwhile, beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Add 1/4 cup white sugar and continue beating until stiff. Fold in egg batter. Blend well and pour mixture in a 9-inch cake pan.
Step 5. Sprinkle grated cheese on top. Cover with cheese cloth. Steam for 30 minutes or until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean.

Sources: entrepreneur.com.ph, wikipedia, filipinovegetarianrecipe.com
Photo: Puto Calasiao by shootfirsteatlater.com

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