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

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Kutsinta or kutchinta is a round, sticky brown rice cake, a popular Filipino snack made with a few ingredients and topped with grated coconut. Kutsinta is a kakanin usually sold by street vendors.

There are a few versions of Kutsinta recipe but the common ingredient is lye water to give it a chewy texture.

Kutsinta Recipe (Kutchinta) - Today's Delight (1)

I stored the kutsinta in a well sealed container for 3 days in the fridge and it came out not hard and still chewy.

Just make sure the lye water measurement is 2 teaspoons.

You may grate coconut in advance and place it in the freezer. When ready to use, leave it for a few minutes in room temperature to thaw.

Kutsinta Recipe (Kutchinta) - Today's Delight (2)

Tips in Making Kutsinta

1. After mixing all the ingredients run it through a sieve for a smooth consistency.

2. Lightly brush each mold with vegetable oil before pouring mixture.

3. Pour mixture in mold to about ¾'s full.

4. Cover steamer lid with cheese cloth or kitchen towel to absorb dripping droplets of water. You don't want water dripping in the mold.

5. When done, set it aside to fully cool.

6. Use a pointed spatula to loosen the edges. It should be completely cool, easy to remove from mold plus you get a rounder kutsinta.

7. Serve with grated coconut. Prepare grated coconut in advance, if you like.

How to Make Kutsinta

Watch my video “How to make Kutsinta”. You’ll be amaze it is easy to make and in no time you are ready to devour this delicious kakanin.

Satisfy your craving with this kutsinta recipe today! Magluto na tayo.

Kutsinta Recipe

Recipe

Kutsinta Recipe (Kutchinta) - Today's Delight (3)

Kutsinta Recipe (Kutchinta)

Kutsinta is a popular Filipino snack made with glutinous rice flour, lye water and other ingredients topped with grated coconut.

5 from 4 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Snack

Cuisine: Filipino

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes minutes

Servings: 3 people

Calories: 371kcal

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup glutinous rice flour
  • ¾ cup all purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons lye water
  • ¾ cup brown sugar
  • cup water
  • 1 teaspoon powdered achiote dissolved in 2 teaspoon of water, take the water from the 1 ½ cup water this recipe calls for or use 2 teaspoons of annatto seeds dissolved in 2 tablespoons of water
  • vegetable oil to coat mold
  • grated coconut for topping

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • In a bowl, put all the dry ingredients. The all-purpose flour, glutinous rice flour and brown sugar. Mix well.

  • Add ½ cup of water at a time to the mixture. Mix every time you add water until mixture is thoroughly dissolved and smooth.

  • Add lye water and the achiote mixture. (Note: Take the water to dissolve the achiote from the 1 ½ cup this recipe calls for.)

  • Get another bowl and pour mixture through a strainer to get rid of lumps for a smoother consistency.

  • Add 8 cups of water in the steamer. Bring to a boil.

  • Brush each mold lightly with vegetable oil and pour mixture to about ¾ full on each mold.

  • Steam for 45 minutes or poke one or two of the kutsinta with a toothpick. If toothpick comes out clean then it is cook already. Remove from heat and let it cool down before removing from the mold.

  • Use a pointed spatula to loosen it from the mold and transfer to a plate. Sprinkle the top of each kutsinta with grated fresh coconut.

  • The mold I used was almost 3 inches wide x 1 inch height and came up with 14 kutsinta. If your mold is smaller you’ll end up with more servings.

Notes

1. Wait till it cools down before using a pointed spatula to get it out of the mold. It is easier to remove it plus you get a rounder shaped kutsinta.

2. You may substitute the glutinous rice flour with tapioca starch using the same measurement.

3. Wrap the steamer lid with cheese cloth so water doesn't drip on the kutsinta making it mushy.

4. I had it in the fridge for 3 days and it was still soft to touch and chewy. But longer than 3 days I’m not really sure if texture will harden.

5. I used frozen grated coconut.

Nutrition

Serving: 4pieces | Calories: 371kcal | Carbohydrates: 88g | Protein: 4g | Sodium: 22mg | Potassium: 106mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 53g | Calcium: 54mg | Iron: 1.8mg

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Comment

  1. Myra C

    Kutsinta Recipe (Kutchinta) - Today's Delight (8)
    Recipe was easy to follow. The hints really helped. They turned out perfect!

    Reply

  2. Marie J.

    Kutsinta Recipe (Kutchinta) - Today's Delight (9)
    Easy and tasty! I thought it was hard to make kutsinta. Thank you for the recipe.

    Reply

    • Fortune

      Glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply

  3. Vivian Dulkiewicz

    Kutsinta Recipe (Kutchinta) - Today's Delight (10)
    It was a perfect kutchinta I made with your recipe a few weeks ago and I am making another one now that is why I came back to your recipe. I am using a dessicated coconut, dried one that is used when you make a macaroon. Just have it in a bowl and put water just to make it moist and sugar for the taste. Its a perfect substitute for the fresh grated coconut toping. Best regards.

    Vivian Dulkiewicz

    Reply

    • Fortune

      I'm glad it came out perfect! Enjoy your next batch. In fact, I'm craving it myself. Thank you for leaving a wonderful comment.

      Reply

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

FAQs

What is a substitute for lye in Kutsinta? ›

Lye Water Substitute

Mix together 1 tsp of baking powder and 4 cups of water. Bring to a boil for 5 minutes, then allow to cool. Store in an airtight jar for future use.

What is the effect of lye water in Kutsinta? ›

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.

Why is my Kutsinta bitter? ›

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.

What is Kutsinta in English? ›

Puto cuchinta or kutsinta is a type of steamed rice cake (puto) found throughout the Philippines.

What is a natural alternative to lye? ›

Lye “Alternatives”

Glycerin is a natural result of saponification. And the first step in creating bases for melt-and-pour soap-making – the most convenient home-based process? Saponification.

Can baking soda replace lye water? ›

A good substitute for lye water is a simple homemade lye water. You can make your own lye water at home with just baking soda and water. Baking soda is an alkaline substance, and baking the baking soda intensifies its alkaline properties.

What is the other name for lye water? ›

Food grade lye water is a potent liquid alkaline used to make traditional ramen noodles, giving them their springy texture. It also helps to prevent them from disintegrating in the broth. Across Asia, lye water is known as kansui.

How do you make lye water naturally? ›

It's very easy, and inexpensive, to prepare a homemade version as a substitute. You only need two ingredients for homemade lye water: Baked baking soda and water. Mix them at a 1:4 ratio.

Why is lye water bad? ›

Lye water is a strongly alkaline (caustic) solution which can cause severe injury in the form of corrosive burns, especially to the throat, oesophagus and stomach if swallowed. These injuries can result in hospitalisation and permanent damage in severe cases.

What is the shelf life of Kutchinta? ›

Black Kutsinta
  1. Soft and chewy rice cake with caramel sauce made into perfection.
  2. Irresistibly good, one bite is not enough! You'll surely love this!
  3. for sharing.
  4. Shelf life: best consumed within 24 hrs; 3-5 days with refrigeration;
  5. Handling: keep away from direct exposure to sunlight/heat.
  6. Allergen: milk.

Why black kutsinta? ›

This variation of the classic Kutsinta uses blackstrap molasses to give it a unique flavor and darker color. It has the same soft and chewy bite but a richer, caramelized, smoky taste!

Is tapioca starch the same as tapioca flour? ›

Okay, and this looks like it may be obvious, but Tapioca starch is Tapioca Flour. Yes. They are, in fact, the same product; they are just labeled differently from brand to brand. The fiber is removed from the starch of the dried cassava, so it is referred to as tapioca starch.

What is a fun fact about kutsinta? ›

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.

How many calories are in 1 kutsinta? ›

Squash Kutsinta. Boiled, mashed squash is added to all-purpose flour dissolved in melted sugar. Lye solution is added to well blended mixture, poured into muffin pans and steamed. One piece of cooked kutsinta weighing about 45 g contains 91 calories, 1.1 g protein and 20 mcg RE.

How do you reheat kutsinta? ›

Black Kutsinta
  1. PRODUCT HANDLING. Store in cool dry place. Do not expose to direct sunlight. Best consumed within 24 hrs.
  2. REHEATING INSTRUCTIONS. Steam for 5 minutes. Microwave for 30 seconds to a minute.

What can lye be replaced with? ›

In this method, you're replacing lye with baking soda, both of which are alkalies. However, lye is much stronger than baking soda. Heating up baking soda in the oven turns it from sodium bicarbonate into sodium carbonate, making it a slightly stronger alkali that'll better replace the lye.

What is the same as lye? ›

Caustic soda is sodium hydroxide which is lye - they are the exact same thing; just different names. The reason behind the different names is mainly to do with the chemical name being “sodium hydrate” and the chemical itself is “caustic or corrosive”, leading to being known as caustic soda.

Is baking soda similar to lye? ›

Baking soda is an 8 on the pH scale, which is only slightly alkaline, while Lye is a 13-14 which is about like the strongest alkaline you can find.

Is lye the same as Salt? ›

In the modern age, most lye comes from salt, the sodium hydroxide method. It begins with the dissolution of salt in water so that crystals fall to the bottom. This mixture then has graphite rods inserted into it. These rods are then electrified, causing the salt crystal to attach themselves to the rods.

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