Folded Cake "Khauk Moan(t)" (Burmese)

Sitting on a brick

        The woman fans a small fire which itself is surrounded by bricks

A little fortress holding up

   ... the flat pan which she has just whisked with a scant amount of butter

                    Payment rendered, we watch her choreographed movements with anticipation

                    The mastery of the folded cake

Ingredients:

(a) 1 C white rice flour + 1 T glutinous rice flour soaked overnight in ½ C (initially hot) water, then add a pinch of salt and stir.  Make sure that the batter is the consistency of batter for crepes – perhaps a tiny bit thicker.  Warning - do not add anything else and especially not baking powder or soda to this.

(b) 6 pieces (about ¼  - ½ C) light colored palm sugar - made into a syrup (maple syrup thickness)

(c) Shredded coconut - about 1 teaspoon per cake

(d) Azuki beans (approximately ½ cup) boiled for about 10 minutes and left soaking until the water cools, then drained

(e) (optional) lightly toasted sesame seeds

Method:

1.      On moderate heat, bring a 8-10 inch flat pan to approximately 325̊ F.  For each pancake, wipe with a cloth which has been lightly dampened with oil right before pouring batter. Sesame oil works best for this but peanut oil is the next best thing.

2.      Pour about 2-3 tablespoons of the batter into the pan in a circular motion and then even it out by swirling the batter in the pan.

3.      Lower the heat a bit and cover the pancake with something that will steam it (i.e. a concave cover) and let cook for about 2-3 minutes until the batter is almost cooked.

4.      Take off the cover, swirl and spread some of the syrup to within ¼ inch of the edges of the pancake.  This will sizzle and contribute to the crispness of the side of the cake touching the pan. But don't let it burn! One technique of spreading the syrup is to use the back of a soup spoon.

5.      Sprinkle on coconut shreds, and about 6-8 beans and a tiny bit of sesame (if using) on half of the pancake.

6.      When the pancake is crisp on the other side, fold it over itself into a half-moon

7.      Let the pancake cool and get a bit crisper on a wire rack before eating.