Rice Cakes (Puto):
2 cups rice flour
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup coconut milk
1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Food coloring (optional)
Filling:
1/2 pound ground pork or chicken
1/2 cup onion, minced
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons oyster sauce
1 tablespoon garlic, minced
1 tablespoon cooking oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Hard-boiled quail eggs (optional)
Preparing the filling:
Heat the cooking oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant. Add the minced onion and cook until translucent. Add the ground pork or chicken and cook until browned. Pour in the soy sauce, oyster sauce, and sugar. Mix well. Allow the mixture to simmer until the sauce thickens and coats the meat. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Remove from heat and let the filling cool. If desired, add quail eggs to the filling mixture.
Preparing the rice cake (puto):
In a mixing bowl, combine the rice flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Mix well. Gradually add the coconut milk and water while stirring. Make sure to eliminate lumps and create a smooth batter. Add the vanilla extract and food coloring (if using). Mix until the batter is evenly colored.
Prepare your puto molds by lightly greasing them with oil or lining them with parchment paper. Fill each mold with a small amount of rice batter, about 1/3 full. Place a spoonful of the meat filling (asado) on top of the rice batter in each mold. Cover the meat filling with more rice batter, filling the molds up to about 2/3 full. This will allow space for the rice cakes to rise during steaming.
Arrange the filled molds in a steamer. Make sure to leave enough space between each mold to allow steam circulation. Steam the puto pao over high heat for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Once cooked, remove the puto pao from the steamer and allow them to cool for a few minutes before removing them from the molds. Serve the puto pao warm as a delicious snack or dessert.
Enjoy your homemade Puto Pao with savory meat filling!
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