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Awan bangwi

Awan bangwi: Tripuri sticky rice with cashews and raisins, steamed in leaf cones

Awan bangwi belongs to the Kokborok-speaking communities of Tripura, who make it for weddings, Garia Puja and New Year gatherings. Soaked sticky rice is mixed with ginger, cashews, raisins and a little ghee, folded into cones of leaf and steamed until glossy and chewy. The mistake to avoid is packing the cones too tightly: the rice swells and the leaves split. Banana leaf or turmeric leaf replaces the local leaf well. Chef's tip: soak the rice overnight; under-soaked grains stay chalky however long you steam them.
Total time
75 min
Difficulty
medium
Serves
6
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Ingredients

Serves6

For the bangwi

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Method

0/4 done
  1. Step 1: Mix the drained 10 ½ oz sticky (glutinous) rice with 1 tbsp ghee, 1 tsp ginger, 1 ⅜ oz cashews, 1 oz raisins and ¼ tsp salt.

    3 min
  2. Step 2: Roll each 4 banana leaves square into a cone, fill two-thirds full with rice, fold the top over loosely and tie with string or a strip of leaf.

    15 min
  3. Step 3: Steam over boiling water, covered, until a grain from the centre is translucent and chewy all the way through. Top up the water as needed.

    45 min
  4. Step 4: Rest 5 minutes before unwrapping. Serve warm.

    5 min

Nutrition per serving

Calories
260 kcal
Protein
5 g
Carbs
45 g
Fat
7 g
Fibre
1 g

Nutrition values are estimates.

K
Recipe by

KrazyBadal

All recipes by this chef →

Good to know

How long does awan bangwi take?
About 75 minutes in total: 30 minutes to prepare and 45 minutes to cook.
How many people does it serve?
6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
Is it vegetarian?
Yes. It has no meat or fish.
Is it gluten free?
Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
What can I use instead of ghee?
Butter, same amount (keep the heat a little lower, butter burns sooner).

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