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Bua loy (rice balls in coconut milk)
บัวลอย · pumpkin and taro dumplings floating in warm salty-sweet coconut milk
The name means 'floating lotus', and on cool evenings in Bangkok's Yaowarat and around temple fairs bowls of these tiny glutinous dumplings are ladled out warm. They are coloured with mashed pumpkin and taro, so they taste faintly of both, and the coconut milk around them is sweet with palm sugar and edged with salt. Some vendors add a soft-cooked egg to the bowl; this version keeps it plant-only. Chef's tip: the usual mistake is making the balls too big; keep them the size of a chickpea so they cook through and stay tender rather than gummy.
- Total time
- 45 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the rice balls
- 7 oz glutinous rice flour
- 2 ⅞ oz pumpkinpeeled, steamed until soft and mashed
- 2 ⅞ oz taropeeled, steamed until soft and mashed
- ¼ cup warm waterapproximately
For the coconut milk
- 2 cups coconut milk
- ¾ cup water
- 2 ⅞ oz palm sugarchopped
- 1 oz sugar
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 pandan leavestied in a knot
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Divide 7 oz glutinous rice flour between two bowls. Knead 2 ⅞ oz pumpkin into one and 2 ⅞ oz taro into the other, adding ¼ cup warm water a teaspoon at a time until each dough is soft, smooth and doesn't crack when pressed, like play dough.
8 minStep 2: Pinch off small pieces and roll them between your palms into balls about 1 cm across. Keep them under a damp cloth as you go.
15 minStep 3: Bring a large pan of water to a rolling boil. Drop in the balls in two batches and stir once so they don't stick. When they float, cook 1 minute more, then lift them into a bowl of cold water.
6 minStep 4: In another pan warm 2 cups coconut milk, ¾ cup water, 2 ⅞ oz palm sugar, 1 oz sugar, ½ tsp salt and 2 pandan leaves over a medium-low heat, stirring until the sugar melts and the milk is steaming but not boiling.
6 minStep 5: Drain the rice balls, add them to the coconut milk and heat gently for 2 minutes so they warm through. Remove the pandan and serve warm in small bowls.
2 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 430 kcal
- Protein
- 4 g
- Carbs
- 64 g
- Fat
- 19 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does bua loy (rice balls in coconut milk) take?
- About 45 minutes in total: 25 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- 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 coconut milk?
- Single cream, same amount (not dairy free).
- What can I use instead of palm sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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