Maja blanca
|
Maja blanca con maiz | |
| Alternative names | Coconut pudding, Coconut cake, kalamay |
|---|---|
| Course | Dessert |
| Place of origin | Philippines |
| Serving temperature | Room temperature, cold |
| Main ingredients | Coconut milk, cornstarch |
| Variations | Maja blanca con maiz. Maja de ube |
 Cookbook: Maja blanca  Media: Maja blanca | |
Maja blanca (Tagalog pronunciation: [ˈmaha ˈblaŋka] MAH-a-BLANK-a) is a Filipino dessert made primarily from coconut milk. Also known as coconut pudding, it is usually served during fiestas and during the holidays, especially Christmas.
Description
Maja blanca has the consistency of thick gelatine and a delicate flavor, and is creamy white in color.
Etymology and history
As the name suggests, the dessert is of Spanish origin, adapted from the traditional holiday dessert manjar blanco, and is thus related to other similar desserts such as blancmange. The name means "white delicacy".[1]
Maja blanca is also known as maja blanca con maíz, maja maíz, or maja blanca maíz when corn kernels are used in the preparation (maíz is Spanish for corn).[2]
Preparation
Maja blanca is relatively easy to prepare. A coconut milk (not coconut cream) and cornstarch mixture is heated to boiling over a low flame while stirring. Agar (gulaman in Filipino) can be substituted for cornstarch.[1] Corn kernels, milk, and sugar are also often added, though these are not traditionally part of the recipe.[3] Once the mixture thickens, it is then poured into serving dishes previously greased with coconut oil and allowed to cool. Once firm, latik (browned coconut cream curds) are then sprinkled as toppings.[2]
It is also often refrigerated and served cold to improve the texture.[4]
The Maja Blanca Recipe is almost like a Panna Cotta in texture but in terms of flavor, the coconut milk gives it a more subtle depth. It is very creamy but not too sweet, and the Sweet Corn kernels that you find in between each bite will add another exciting flavor. The Latik toppings are also there to add another texture and give it a nutty flavor. This delicacy is meant to soothe the soul for its melt-in-your-mouth goodness.[5]
Variations
Maja blanca can easily be adapted to include various other ingredients. Examples include squash maja blanca which uses calabazas (Filipino: kalabasa)[6] and a version of maja maiz that uses butter, resulting in a distinctive yellow color.[7]
Another variation of maja blanca is the maja de ube (or maja ube). It uses ube (purple yam) as one of the primary ingredients giving it a characteristic deep violet color.[8]
See also
References
- 1 2 "Maja Blanca". Driftless Appetite: Life & Food in the Driftless Area. Retrieved November 26, 2011.
- 1 2 Reynaldo G. Alejandro & Doreen G. Fernandez (1998). Food of the Philippines. Tuttle Publishing. p. 102. ISBN 978-962-593-245-3.
- ↑ Vanjo Merano (November 8, 2009). "Maja Blanca". Panlasang Pinoy. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
- ↑ J. Dagoon (2005). Home Economics Technology IV. Rex Bookstore, Inc. p. 89. ISBN 978-971-23-4221-9.
- ↑ "Maja Blanca Recipe Filipino by Pilipinas Recipes".
- ↑ Regional Field Unit No. 5. Emily B. Bordado, ed. Vegetable-based recipes (PDF). Department of Agriculture, Republic of the Philippines. p. 11.
- ↑ "Maja Maiz". Home Cooking Rocks!. July 30, 2004. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
- ↑ Dagoon; et al. (1999). Culinary Arts I. Rex Bookstore, Inc. p. 269. ISBN 978-971-23-2603-5.
