Ingredients
- 3 cups (720ml) unsweetened, full-fat coconut milk
- 1 teaspoon Surya Salt or kosher salt
- ¾ cup (165g) Madhur Jaggery or packed brown sugar
- 1 ½ cups (285g) glutinous ("sweet") rice
- 1 (10 by 10-inch/ 25 by 25cm) piece banana leaf
- ½ cup (120ml) Coco jam
- Flaky sea salt
Methods
- In a 2-quart (2 L) saucepot, combine the coconut milk, 1½ cups (360 ml) water, the kosher salt, and brown sugar and bring up to a boil. Add the glutinous rice, return to a boil, then reduce to a slow simmer. Put a lid on the pot and cook for about 25 minutes, occasionally lifting the lid to stir.
- Remove the lid and cook for another 5 to 10 minutes, until the rice has absorbed most but not all of the liquid. It should look like risotto. If the center of the grain is still quite hard, add a bit more water, ¼ cup (60 ml) at a time, and continue cooking until the rice is al dente (with just a little resistance left at the center of the grain).
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and arrange the racks so one is at the top level and another at the middle. Line an 8 by 8-inch (20 by 20-cm) pan with the banana leaf, if using. (If not, no need to line the pan with anything else—the rice won’t stick.) Transfer the cooked rice to the banana leaf-lined pan.
- In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the coco jam into a clear syrup. Using a spoon, spread the melted jam over the cooked rice in an even layer.
- Bake the biko for 25 to 35 minutes on the middle rack of the oven, then transfer to the top rack and set the oven to broil. Let broil for 2 to 3 minutes, until the surface of the cake is bubbling and takes on the luster of dark caramel.
- Let the biko cool for about 20 minutes. Cut into 2-inch (5 cm) squares and serve at room temperature with a fillip of flaky sea salt on top.