Nagasari

Nagasari is a traditional malay kuih which is made of rice flour, sugar, coconut milk and filled with a banana slice in the centre.  They are wrapped in banana leaves before they are steamed.

Ingredients (yields about 20 pcs):
120 g sugar
800 ml coconut milk
200 g rice flour
1/2 tsp salt
4 pandan leaves, to be tied in a knot
1 tsp cooking oil

1 packet (3 x 1/2) banana leaves
6 medium-sized bananas

Method:
Clean banana leaves and cut them in 15cm x 18cm.  Soften banana leaves by either soaking them in hot water or held against an open fire.

In a pot, add sugar, salt, cooking oil and coconut milk.  Stir thoroughly.  Add rice flour by the spoonfuls and stir well after each addition.  Add pandan leaves and cook over low/medium heat until mixture thickens.  It is important to keep stirring in order to avoid lumps from forming.  Once mixture is thickened, remove from heat and leave aside to cool down a bit.

Wipe banana leaves dry.  Peel one banana at a time, cut into two and then, halve them.  Add about one and a half tablespoon of mixture onto a banana leaf and a banana piece.  Then, add another one and a half tablespoon of mixture onto banana and fold banana leaf as shown in the following photos.  Make sure that the banana slice is well enveloped into the coconut/flour mixture.

Repeat procedure until all ingredients are used up.  Steam the prepared parcels in a preheated steamer for about 30 to 35 minutes.  Leave to cool down completely before serving.

Bon Appetit!