Myanmar - Hidden Treasure (Monpetok)

Hidden Treasure 

(Monpetok)

Ingredients

-       2 1/2 cups glutinous rice flour

-       Small pinch salt

-       1 1/4 cups water

-       20, 5-inch square banana leaves OR foil squares.

-       1 small or 1 pound grated coconut

-       12 ounces palm sugar OR 8 ounces brown sugar

-       1 teaspoon oil

Directions

-       Mix flour with salt and water into stiff dough.

-       Knead with 3/4 cups plus 1 cup water, cover, and set aside.

-       Heat banana leaves to make pliable.

-       Cut in 5-inch squares.

-       If foil is used, prepare in 5-inch squares.

-       Grate coconut. Heat sugar with 1 to 2 tablespoons water.

-       When melted, add coconut and stir over fire till water is well absorbed.

-       Coat palm and fingers with oil.

-       Take 2 teaspoons of dough and flatten on palm till 1/8 inch thin.

-       Spoon coconut mixture on center and wrap as much mixture as can be covered securely.

-       Take a banana leaf or foil square by 2 sides, holding it in a rough cone.

-       Place pellet into cone formed.

-       Fold down other sides of leaf, one side after the other, to form a flat top.

-       Lay pellets in steamer with flat side down to hold fold in place.

-       The shape should be a pyramid.

-       Steam about 20 minutes.

-       When glutinous rice is cooked through, unwrap and serve 3 to 4 small pyramids per person.