BIKO

Biko is known to us Filipino’s. This cheap and delicious malagkit rice is easy to made, during the all souls and saint’s day(s) each Filipino households are busy cooking this dish. The sweet and sticky texture of this dish is absolutely “IN” to our taste. Since  BIKO is easy to be made this dish is commonly seen in table to be serve.   

 

Biko is a Filipino rice cake made from sticky rice (locally known as malagkit), coconut milk, and brown sugar. Like other rice cakes, this is referred to as kakanin (derived from the word “kanin” which means rice) and is often eaten as dessert or meryenda (mid-afternoon snack).Traditionally, this delicious rice cake is placed over banana leaves in a bilao (round woven bamboo tray) and garnished with latik (cooked coconut milk residue) on top. In addition, Biko is served during special occasions such as birthday parties, family reunions, and town fiestas.

Try this simple yet delicious Biko recipe.

Biko Ingredients:

    2 cups malagkit (sticky rice)

    1 cup brown sugar

    3 1/2 cups diluted coconut milk

    1/8 lb. butter

Topping:

    1 can (15 oz.) condensed milk

    3/4 cups rich coconut milk

    2 to 3 tbsp. flour for quick thickening

Biko Cooking Instructions:

  ●  Grate and squeeze out milk from 2 coconuts. Save 3/4 cup of the first milk squeezed out (rich milk) for topping.

   ● Dilute the rest of the coconut milk to make 3 1/2 cups. Or use 1 can (12 ounces) frozen coconut milk, saving 3/4 cup of the thick milk for topping and diluting the rest to make 3 1/2 cups.

● Boil rice and coconut milk in a heavy pot stirring constantly to keep from burning (about 15 to 20 minutes). When the rice is done and almost dry, lower the heat and add the sugar and butter.

   ● Mix well and set aside.

   ● Scoop the cooked biko and place it in a baking dish or Bilao then flatten the surface.

To make latik or topping:

   ● Combine all topping ingredients in a heavy saucepan and cook over low heat stirring constantly until thick (about 15 minutes) or brown.

   ● then pour topping over rice mixture.

   ● served while hot.

One of the most loved kakanins is the Biko. Aside from malagkit, this delicious sticky rice treat also contains brown sugar and coconut milk and topped with latik, a sweet topping made of fried coconut milk curd. It is prepared by partially cooking the rice and then mixing in the rest of the ingredients until a thick consistency is reached.