Sugar-Free and Gluten-Free Ang Ku Kueh with Mung Bean Paste Filling (Red Tortoise Cake 无糖无麸质绿豆蓉红龟粿)

Step 1

Boil 75ml water with 1g dried blue pea flower.

Step 2

Mix 80g glutinous rice flour with 1/8 tsp fine salt, and 1 tsp Stevia sweetener (or sugar). Stir to combine well. Make a well in the centre and pour in half of the 75ml hot blue pea flower water. Use a spatula to start stirring until it forms a crumbly dough. Then add the remaining hot blue pea flower water and continue to mix.

Step 3

When cool enough to handle, use your hand to knead the dough.

Step 4

Gradually add 10ml vegetable oil and continue to knead into a soft, pliable and shiny dough.

Step 5

Cover and let it rest for 15 minutes. The dough should be soft and will not break when kneaded.

Step 6

Wash and dry the banana leaves. Cut out the banana leaves according to the size of the mould, leaving about 1cm space all around. Grease one side of the banana leaves with vegetable oil.

Step 7

Roll into balls 20g of mung bean paste filling each, and 20g of the dough each. I’m using a 40g mould. The ratio of dough versus filling I used is 50/Roll the 20g dough into a ball, press a hole in the middle with your thumb to form a ‘bowl’.

Step 8

Place the mung bean paste filling in the middle of the ‘bowl’ and press the edge of the dough to close. Make sure it’s sealed properly to avoid leakage. Then roll into a smooth ball again.

Step 9

Dust the dough ball with some glutinous rice flour before gently pressing the dough ball into the mould to form the shape. Knock the mold gently on your palm and the dough will flip out of the mould.

Step 10

Place each ang ku kueh on a greased banana leaf.

Step 11

Boil water in a steamer pot on high heat. Place the ang ku kueh on a steamer tray, leaving about 2cm apart from each piece. Cover with lid, leaving a small opening of about 1cm.

Step 12

Steam on medium heat for about 10-13 minutes until skin turns translucent.Note: I steamed my 40g ang ku kueh for about 13.5 minutes on average each time). I also wiped off the moisture condensation forming on the lid 2-3 times during steaming.

Step 13

Transfer the ang ku kueh onto a plate and brush with some vegetable oil. Let the ang ku kueh cool down before serving.