Palitaw Recipe - Foxy Folksy (2024)

BY :Bebs | Published: | Updated: | 20 Comments

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4.72 from 7 votes

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Palitaw Recipe - Foxy Folksy (1)
Palitaw Recipe - Foxy Folksy (2)

Palitaw is a Filipino afternoon snack or 'merienda' that consist mainly ofglutinous rice coated with gratedcoconut and sugar and sometimes roasted sesame seeds. This flattened sweet rice cake is very chewy and really filling but the best part is, it is really easy to make. This Palitaw recipe is as easy as it can get because I used glutinous rice flour that is readily available in Asian stores. Back in the days, I remember my Mama had to goto the wet market or 'palengke' to buy glutinous rice and have it grinded there as well. I am notsure if this is still done back home, will have to ask my Mama. Once the glutinous rice is grinded it would look like a white dough and all that is need to be done is form them into small balls and flatten them before dropping them in boiling water, but since I am using glutinous rice flour, I needed to add some water, or in this case I used coconut milk, to add a bit more flavor.

Palitaw Recipe - Foxy Folksy (3)

I find Palitaw to be a funny thing. The word 'palitaw' means 'to surface' and it was named so because once the flattened glutinous rice dough surfaces to the top of the boiling water where it is cooked, it means it done. Once cooked they are rolled in a mixture of grated coconut and sugar, and if desired, sprinkled with roasted sesame seeds. If you've read my post on Pichi-pitchi, you'll know thatfreshly grated coconut is next to impossible to find here in Germany and you will also learn about my secret: I use desiccated coconut and add some water (or in this case, again, a mixture of coconut milk and water) to it and it works perfectly!

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Palitaw Recipe - Foxy Folksy (4)

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Palitaw Recipe

4.72 from 7 votes

Palitaw is a Filipino afternoon snack or 'merienda' that consist mainly ofglutinous rice coated with gratedcoconut and sugar and sometimes roasted sesame seeds. This flattened sweet rice cakeis very chewy and really filling but the best part is, it is really easy to make.

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 10 minutes mins

Total Time: 20 minutes mins

Course :Snack

Servings =10

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Ingredients

  • 1 cup glutinous rice flour
  • ½ cup water or cup coconut milk
  • 1 cup coconut (grated)
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • cup sesame seeds (roasted) - (optional)

Instructions

  • In a bowl, combine glutinous rice flour and water and mix into a soft, pliable dough. If too soft or sticky add some more g. rice flour, a tablespoon at a time. If a piece of dough is cracking when flattened, then add a bit of water.

  • Form small balls, each an inch in diameter. Then flatten the balls to a quarter-inch thickness by pressing them in between your palms.

  • In a pot or deep pan over medium-high heat, bring about 5-inch deep of water into a rolling boil.

  • Gently drop each flattened dough into the boiling water. Do not overcrowd the pot. When the pieces float to the surface, remove from water using a slotted spoon and drain well.

  • When cool enough to handle, roll in a plate of mixed sugar and coconut and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Notes

If using desiccated coconut: In a bowl, add about a quarter cup of water to half a cup of desiccated coconut and mix really well. Make it ahead of time, like 30 minutes earlier so it can sit for a couple of minutes to absorb the liquid, make sure to mix from time to time. Adjust the measurements as needed.

Nutrition

Calories: 75kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 0gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 3mgPotassium: 37mgFiber: 1gSugar: 5gVitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 19mgIron: 0.5mg

Have you tried this recipe?Mention @foxyfolksy or tag #FoxyFolksyRecipes!

Palitaw Recipe - Foxy Folksy (5)

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Comments

    What do you think?

  1. Lai says

    Hi Bebs! Been following your site for a while and yours is lowkey my fave and my first go-to when looking for specific Filipino recipes. Anyway, for this Palitaw, can I use Mochiko since I don't or never have glutinous rice flour? Is it the same? Thanks and btw, fantastic job on your traditional and not-so-traditional collection of recipes! ^_^

    Reply

    • Bebs says

      Hi Lai, I am happy that you like our recipe collections here! I have not used Mochiko yet, but as far as I know, it is a type of glutinous rice flour, so I am sure it should work too.

      Reply

  2. Manny says

    What is the proper way to flatten the mixture of the palitan, without sticking in your palm? It's hard to release it to the boiling water. HELP.

    Reply

    • Bebs says

      Hi Manny, you can try to dust your hands with rice flour while working on them.

      Reply

  3. Manny says

    Can I substitute glutonous rice flour to a regular rice flour?

    Reply

    • Bebs says

      Hi Manny, it has to be glutinous rice flour.

      Reply

  4. Maria says

    Miss Beb, I love your recipe!!!
    very easy and accurate
    I would like to ask if I uses fine dessicated coconut, should I still mix it with water?

    Thanks

    Reply

    • Bebs says

      Hi Maria, sure or coconut milk. This is only to hydrate them and this is the closest thing you will get to freshly grated coconut.

      Reply

  5. Donna says

    Palitaw Recipe - Foxy Folksy (18)
    Hi! Is it ok to use shredded coconut? Thanks!

    Reply

    • Bebs says

      Shredded as in strips or flakes? But I guess it should be fine only grated coconut is finer and sticks well to the surface.

      Reply

  6. Jojo panganiban says

    Palitaw Recipe - Foxy Folksy (19)
    I like your recipes- very doable??

    Reply

    • Bebs says

      Happy to hear that, Jojo. Thanks for the 5 stars.

      Reply

  7. Imee says

    Love your cooking, always.
    Keep up the your lovely cooking.
    Have a great day.

    Reply

    • Bebs says

      Thanks Imee!

      Reply

  8. Aireen says

    Palitaw Recipe - Foxy Folksy (20)
    I'm following your website as my family and me are also living in Germany and we have the same access (or lack of) for ingredients. Me and my husband are always missing the foods from home so I always try to make some. I have used your desiccated coconut trick to replace the grated coconut and it worked out well. Thanks so much for sharing these tips. Now, I can also use this for puto, kutsinta, pichi-pichi, etc.

    Reply

    • Bebs says

      Hi Aireen, I know exactly how it feels to miss and crave for our home food! I am glad I am able to help in simple ways...????

      Reply

  9. Lyn lyn says

    Palitaw Recipe - Foxy Folksy (21)
    Can I use rice flour insted of glutinous rice flour.

    Reply

    • Bebs says

      Hi Lyn lyn, it has to be glutinous rice flour because of its sticky consistency which a regular rice flour lacks.

      Reply

  10. Teresita Cruz says

    The grated coconut, can i use frozen? All i can find here are frozen ones, do i need to squeeze out the liquid. Thanks

    Reply

    • Bebs says

      The problem with squeezing out the liquids is that you also get rid of the flavor. Try putting it on a strainer to remove excess liquids, stirring every few minutes and let it dry out just a bit. I prefer using desiccated coconut because, in my experience, the flavor is more intact than the frozen ones, but maybe the ones you get there are better than the ones I get here in Germany!?

      Reply

Palitaw Recipe - Foxy Folksy (2024)

FAQs

Why is palitaw called palitaw? ›

Palitaw is named after the way it's cooked - in boiling water until the dough floats or "litaw" to the surface. What does palitaw taste like?

How do you store Palitaw? ›

Palitaw
  1. PRODUCT HANDLING. Store in cool dry place. Do not expose to direct sunlight. Best consumed immediately.
  2. REHEATING INSTRUCTIONS. Best to steam for 5 minutes or. Microwave for 30 seconds to a minute.

What is the meaning of desiccated coconut? ›

Desiccated coconut is the disintegrated and dehydrated coconut kernel or pulp largely comprising the white portion of the kernel, after removing the brown testa or parings. From: Encyclopedia of Food Sciences and Nutrition (Second Edition), 2003.

Is glutinous rice healthy or not? ›

In addition, because glutinous rice contains insoluble fiber, it has good antioxidant capacity and is beneficial for the digestive system of children. Trace elements in sticky rice such as iron can also prevent iron deficiency anemia in children.

What is the English of palitaw? ›

"Palitaw (ᜉᜎᜒᜆᜏ᜔) (from litaw, the Tagalog word for "float" or "rise") is a small, flat, sweet rice cake eaten in the Philippines.

Why is my palitaw hard? ›

You need the right ratio of glutinous rice flour and water for the perfect texture. Not enough liquid and the cooked patties will be hard to chew. Too much, and the dough will be hard to form into shape. I find 1 cup of water to 2 cups of sticky rice flour yields the best texture.

Do rice cakes go bad in fridge? ›

Keep your rice cakes in the fridge for 3 days.

Set your rice cakes on the middle shelf of your fridge to keep them cold and try to eat them within 3 days.

Where did palitaw come from? ›

Palitaw is another product of rice that originated in Pangasinan, a province in the northern part of Luzon, Philippines.

Which is better desiccated or shredded coconut? ›

Dried Coconut: Desiccated, Shaved, Flaked and Shredded

This is the best option for baking into slices, cakes and biscuits. On the other hand, shredded coconut is a little more coarsely grated, with longer strands, and a bit of a higher moisture content.

Can I use shredded coconut instead of desiccated? ›

I often use shredded coconut and desiccated coconut interchangeably when I am baking, making desserts, curries or coconut recipes. Shredded coconut is a larger fiber so you may want to pulse it in a food processor to make it finer to become more like desiccated coconut if needed.

Can I turn shredded coconut into desiccated coconut? ›

If you have a bag of shredded coconut, then you can directly start making desiccated coconut. If you have a fresh coconut, then you will have to prepare the coconut before drying it.

What is Bilo Bilo made of? ›

Pinaltok or Bilo-bilo is a Filipino dessert made of small glutinous balls (sweet sticky rice flour rounded up by adding water) in coconut milk and sugar. Then jackfruit, saba bananas, sweet potatoes, taro, and tapioca pearls or sago (regular and mini size pearls) are added.

What is the difference between mochiko and rice flour? ›

Both are staples in Asian cuisine, but each has very different uses. Rice flour is made from long to medium-grain rice, while sweet rice flour is made from short-grain rice. Standard rice flour works well in baked goods, while sweet rice flour is great as a thickener for sauces or as a binder for mochi and noodles.

Can you eat raw rice flour? ›

The Experts Say Absolutely Not.

What is another name for Palitaw? ›

Its name is from the Filipino root word "litaw" or "to surface," as the patties will float or rise to the water's surface when done. It's also called "dila dila" in other parts of the country because of the shape of the patties resembling a "tongue."

Where did glutinous rice get its name? ›

It is widely consumed across Asia. It is called glutinous (Latin: glūtinōsus) in the sense of being glue-like or sticky, and not in the sense of containing gluten (which it does not).

Why is Palitaw floating? ›

The Filipino rice cake known as palitaw is prepared by soaking rice rings in water overnight. The rings are then ground into small pieces and cooked in boiling water. This cooking process activates convection currents, which is the reason why palitaw floats in boiling water.

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