Gourmet Bhapa Pitha

Bhapa pitha is a type of rice cake mainly from the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent, what is today Bangladesh, East India and Northeast India. Bhapa pitha is considered to be traditional winter dish in Bangladesh. These are steamed rice cakes made out of freshly ground rice flour. Wikipedia

My version is to take it up a level, making in batches and serving in style - as a dessert.

Ingredients:
(to make 4-5, one cup ground rice makes 4-5 depending on size)

These stainless steel dessert bowls are ideal. 

• Ground rice (you can use store bought ground rice, not rice flour)
• Salt
• Crushed Patali Gur
• Shredded coconut (fresh or frozen)
• Morcha or Jhola Gur (to serve)
• Cream (to serve)

Equipments:

• Mould 1 (pictured)
• Cheese cloth. 6-9 pieces (to cover the mould)
• Steamer (pictured)

Process: (see any YouTube video on Bhapa Pitha to get an idea)

Ground Rice:

in the steamer pan

• Mix 1 cup ground rice with 6 tbsp warm water and 1/2 tsp salt and leave covered for 4-6 hours

Coconut filling

• Mix 1 cup shredded coconut, 1/2 cup Patali Gur and 2 tbsp milk powder. 
• Heat up and reduce to semi-dry consistency

Steaming:

• Fill the mould halfway with ground rice
• Put some coconut filling and some crushed Patali Gur in the middle
• Fill the mould up to the edge with more rice 
• Gently pack 
• Cover with a small piece of cheese cloth, hold it tight
• Turn the mould upside down and place it inside the steamer and gently remove the mould. 
• Place 3-4 more depending on space. I use a stackable (multi-layer) steamer to make 9-12 in one go as you can see in the picture. You can also use stackable bamboo steamers available in Chinese shops to make dumplings. 
• Place them on the pot of steaming hot water, cover and leave it to steam for 6-8 minutes.  
• Remove the pan from the pot 



Multi-layer steamer

• Lift them up gently and serve. 

To Serve

• Pour cream over
• Drizzle liquid Gur syrup 
• Sprinkle wet shredded coconut
• Sprinkle crushed Gur over