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Kulolo
Hawaiian taro and coconut pudding
Kulolo is one of the oldest Hawaiian sweets, a dense, fudgy pudding of grated taro and coconut that was once wrapped in ti leaves and baked for hours in an imu (earth oven) for lū'au feasts. On the windward side of O'ahu and in Hilo it is still sold in slabs at farmers' markets. Taro must always be fully cooked; raw taro contains crystals that badly irritate the mouth and throat, so peel it with gloves and bake the full time. A common mistake is cutting it hot; it firms as it cools. Chef's tip: bake it long and low until deep brown and sticky at the edges, where the caramel flavour is.
- Total time
- 210 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 12
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ lb taro rootpeeled (wear gloves) and finely grated
- 1 ¾ cups coconut milk
- 7 oz brown sugar
- 2 tbsp golden syrup
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Heat the oven to 350°F (300°F fan). Wearing gloves, peel 2 ¼ lb taro root and grate it finely.
20 minStep 2: Mix the taro with 1 ¾ cups coconut milk, 3 ½ oz freshly grated or desiccated coconut, 7 oz brown sugar and 2 tbsp golden syrup into a thick, sticky batter.
5 minStep 3: Line a 20 × 20 cm tin with a double layer of baking paper (or ti or banana leaves), spread in the mixture and cover tightly with foil.
5 minStep 4: Bake for about 3 hours, until the kulolo is a deep reddish-brown, firm and fudgy, and a knife comes out sticky but not raw-tasting. Take off the foil for the last 30 minutes to brown the top.
180 minStep 5: Cool completely, then cut into squares with an oiled knife.
120 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 260 kcal
- Protein
- 2 g
- Carbs
- 40 g
- Fat
- 11 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does kulolo take?
- About 210 minutes in total: 30 minutes to prepare and 180 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 12 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 brown sugar?
- White sugar + 1 tbsp molasses or treacle per 200g.
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