TALAM SERI MUKA

Today I decided to go traditional. After trying so many Western style desserts, I thought I should try out something 'closer to home', the Talam Seri Muka. I realized I've not made this for quite some time and if I don't make some, I might just forget how to make them. Just like any desserts, this one is unique with a layer of glutinous rice at the bottom and a coconut rich custard at the top. Salty and sweet.


You may adjust the sweetness to your own preference. As this dessert requires steaming, you'll need one big enough to fit a 20cm round tin. For easy  handling, I lined the inside of the tin with aluminium foil with the sides long enough to cover the sides as well. 


You'll need:


Prepare steamer with the water at a steady boil.


Glutinous Rice Layer


1 1/2 cups of glutinous rice (soaked for at least 3hrs)
3/4 cups of coconut milk
1 teaspoon of salt
pandan leaves tied into a knot.


After soaking, remove excess water and rinse the rice and drain.
Place rice in the prepared tin. Add coconut milk, salt and pandan leaves.
Place in steamer and steam for about 30 mins.
After 30mins, have a check at the rice. Remove the pan from the steamer, use a fork to fluff up the rice. Then with using a clean pastic, use your palm to press and flatten rice surface. Make it compact so that the custard will not seep through and that it'll hold the custard layer well.


Pandan Custard Layer


3 medium size eggs - slightly beaten
3/4 coconut cream
3/4 castor sugar 
2/3 cup water mixed with  2 teaspoons of pandan paste
2 tablespoons of cornflour
2 tablespoons of plain flour.


Mix all the ingredients together with a whisk.
Strain Custard mix into another bowl and gently warm over boiling water to thicken it. Continue to whisk to avoid lumps. It should still be at pouring consistency.
Gently pour custard mix onto the prepared glutinous layer and place in the steamer.


Continue to steam for another 30 mins, on gentle fire.


Remove from steamer and cool thoroughly before attempting to cut. I find using a plastic knife ease cutting.


Selamat mencuba!