Sticky, chewy and so sweet, biko is a treat enjoyed by Filipinos around the world. Biko is a type of sticky rice cake, also known as kakanin. With a combination of coconut milk and brown sugar, biko is a delicious dessert or snack to share with your loved ones! You can often find biko at birthday parties, parties, holiday parties, and family gatherings, usually with other sticky rice treats.
Filipinos love rice, but we also love coconuts. The sweet and unique taste of coconut milk is one we use in a variety of dishes: appetizers, main courses, and even desserts. Whatever you combine it with, the delicious taste of coconut milk shines through, another reason biko is so unique and absolutely delicious!
If you’re worried about cooking this, you don’t have to be! The biko recipe we have today is simple, taking a little less than an hour with just a few ingredients. In addition, the biko we are familiar with is traditionally served on banana leaves in a bilao, or a round tray of woven bamboo. However, because we want anyone to be able to make this recipe, all you need is a pot, a rice cooker, and a serving dish! Biko is so easy to make that you can enjoy it on your dining table in no time!
Choose your
Biko
Biko is a type of kakanin, a group of glutinous rice cakes that we love to have for snacks. The word itself is actually a combination of the words kanin (rice) and kain (to eat)! We know that there are many types of kakanin (bibingka, or sapin-sapin, among others, does a bell ring for you?). But did you also know that there are many types of biko? It’s true! You can enjoy this classic rice cake in a number of ways, and each one is delicious! It all depends on your preference.
Here are some examples of biko variations that you’re sure to love.
- When we think of this kakanin, many times the image that comes to mind is the delicious sticky rice cake topped with dried coconut curd, more commonly known as latik. My Biko with Latik recipe shows you how to make your own, which you can enjoy on top of your freshly cooked biko.
- Have you ever tried champorado? While not a sticky rice cake, this warm, chocolate porridge is also loved by many in the country! My love of biko and champorado inspired my chocolate biko recipe, which gives you the best of both worlds, or dishes! The addition of the cocoa table as an ingredient really brings a different kind of flavor to the classic rice dish. With a hot cup of coffee, this really makes for a sweet but filling dessert.
- But if the sweet, creamy and nutty taste of ube is more to your liking, you will like this Ube Biko! The combination of ube halaya and classic biko results in a dish that is addictively sweet and super delicious!
- In some regions, you can even pack biko and sell it as they add up, even more compact pieces of sticky rice traditionally wrapped in banana leaves!
As many twists as you can put on this traditional rice cake, you can never go wrong with the classic sticky coconut milk rice. Try this amazing recipe today.
How to do this at home
The only ingredients you’ll need for biko are sticky rice, water, brown sugar, coconut milk, and salt! See? Easy!
Mix your sticky rice and water in a rice cooker and cook until your rice is ready. The small amount of water compared to rice is intentional; This is because we don’t want the rice to be fully cooked! While cooking the rice, combine 4 cups of coconut milk with 2 cups of brown sugar and salt in a separate pot over the stove. Simmer until texture thickens and continues to stir. Incorporate both ingredients well. The sweet, nutty smell of the coconut-sugar mixture is absolutely delicious!
Once your rice
has finished cooking, add your cooked rice to the thick mixture of coconut milk and sugar. Mix them well, letting the rice absorb the thick texture. Continue cooking it until all the liquid evaporates, but make sure you don’t overcook it!
After you have thoroughly cooked your biko, transfer it to a serving plate and make it flat. Hot, sticky and sweet, your biko is ready to be consumed! Share it and enjoy it with your loved ones with a cup of hot coffee or hot chocolate.
Let us know what you think of this biko recipe!
