During winter we usually prepare a lot of rice cakes including this Vapa pitha. Vapa means 'steam' in our language. This cake is made out of rice flour, jaggery, and coconut flacks. Yes, only three ingredients but it's full of flavors.
The preparation process may seem a little complicated to you. It also took me a few years to learn how to make the perfect cake. But don't worry Youtube is there to help us with everything. I also followed the step-by-step process from a channel.
You can see This link for the detailed process. I'm gonna share how I prepared it in our traditional way.
- First I prepared the rice flour with some water and salt.
- Then I placed one layer of rice flour and one layer of jaggery, again some rice flour and some coconut flecks. Cover the whole blow with the three ingredients.
- Then cover the bowl with a cotton cloth/napkin.
Now we need to place this bowl over a cooker where it can steam for a couple of minutes.
Traditionally we use this type of utensil to make this cake. It's also available in clay-made pots. We need to pour water into the pot, boil the water so it comes to steam, and then place the bowl over the pot.
Like this.
- Cover the pot with a lid and let it cook for a few minutes.
- Carefully remove it from the pot and let it cool for a few seconds. Then take off the cotton cloth and get off the bowl.
- It will look like this.
Isn't it looking appealing?
It may not need a lot of ingredients. But the jaggery is so flavorful and the coconut gives it an extra kick, it's mouthwatering. This cake is similar to Indian 'Poha'. But we usually make it with jaggery. During winter morning, this one thing is a must as our breakfast.
I can remember how we used to wake up in the morning during our childhood with the smell of vapa pitha. It always reminds me of those good old days.
