Degchi
Bhapa Pitha (Steamed Rice Cake)
Serves 6 · Total 50 min · Prep 30 min · Cook 20 min
Photo: Marajozkee / CC BY-SA 4.0
Rice flour steamed inside a small cloth-covered bowl around a filling of date palm jaggery and fresh grated coconut, turning out as a soft, fragrant cake in minutes. A winter-morning street and home favourite, best eaten hot off the steamer.
Quick answer: 50 min in total · serves 6 · main ingredients: Rice flour, Fresh grated coconut, Jaggery · amounts in metric and US
Ingredients
- 300 g 2.4 cup Rice flour
- 150 g 1.5 cup Fresh grated coconut
- 150 g 0.75 cup Jaggery, date palm jaggery, broken into small pieces
- 1 pinch 1 pinch Salt (Optional)
Steps
Timers run only while this tab is open. The Degchi app keeps them running on a locked phone.
- Mix the rice flour with a pinch of salt and sprinkle in water gradually, rubbing between your palms, until it forms a damp, crumbly texture (not a dough).
- Push the damp flour through a sieve to make it fine and lump-free.
- Mix the grated coconut with the jaggery pieces to make the filling.
- Fill a small bowl halfway with the flour, add a spoon of grated coconut and jaggery in the centre, then cover with more flour and level the top.
- Cover the bowl with a piece of thin cloth, invert it over a pot of boiling water fitted with a steamer ring, and steam for 8-10 minutes until the pitha is set and holds together.⏱ Steaming the pitha · 9 min
- Carefully unmould onto a plate and serve warm.
Cook this in the app — get Degchi on Google Play
Get it on Google PlayNot sure you have everything? Check this against your pantry
Frequently asked questions
How long does Bhapa Pitha (Steamed Rice Cake) take?
50 minutes in total: about 30 minutes of prep and 20 minutes of cooking.
Is Bhapa Pitha (Steamed Rice Cake) hard to make?
Degchi rates it medium. The method has 6 steps, and 1 of them have a timer you can start on this page.
How many people does Bhapa Pitha (Steamed Rice Cake) serve?
This recipe serves 6. Use the toggle above the ingredient list to see the amounts in metric or US measures. For more or fewer portions, scale every amount in the same proportion, or use the servings control in the Degchi app.
Is Bhapa Pitha (Steamed Rice Cake) halal, vegetarian or eggless?
It is marked halal in our recipe data. It is vegetarian. It has no egg. It has no beef. Check the labels on any packaged ingredients for your own needs.
What will I probably need to buy for Bhapa Pitha (Steamed Rice Cake)?
Lentils, grains and other dry goods: rice flour, fresh grated coconut, jaggery.
Any tips for making Bhapa Pitha (Steamed Rice Cake)?
The flour must stay crumbly, not wet — too much water makes a gummy pitha that will not hold its shape when unmoulded. Texture test: squeeze a handful of the damp flour. It should hold together when pressed but crumble when poked. If it stays loose, add a few drops of water; if it feels like dough, add a little dry flour. Sieve it twice for a light, even pitha.
Notes and questions
No notes yet. Ask a question about this recipe, share a tip, or tell us if something needs fixing. Our team reads every note before it appears.
Ask a question or add a note
This recipe in other languages
Used in these posts
Steaming Without a Steamer: Idli, Dhokla, Pitha in a Pot
You do not need a special steamer for idli, dhokla or Bengali bhapa pitha. A deep pot, something to lift the tray above the water and a tea towel is enough.
How to Make Chitoi Pitha at Home (Rice Flour Pan Cakes)
Chitoi pitha is a soft, slightly tangy rice flour disc cooked under a lid. Here is how the batter works, how to cook it without a clay mould, and the two classic ways to serve it.
