Pichi Pichi is a sticky Filipino dessert or kakanin made with cassava as the main ingredient, steamed for 40 minutes to an hour and coated with grated coconut or cheese.
This pichi pichi recipe is so easy to make with only 6 ingredients.
Prep time doesn’t take that long especially if using frozen cassava. Fresh and frozen cassava are available in Asian stores.
This is one of my Mom’s favorite snack or merienda.
I was looking at her recipe book and her pichi pichi recipe was dated 1992. I left in 1982. No wonder why I was not familiar with it, when she first made it here in the USA.
Ingredient substitute
Grated coconut - substitute with your favorite grated cheese.
Some tips
My mom uses water, but I wanted to try using milk. Our close friend uses milk instead of water and she cooks it in the microwave.
Also, I am using frozen grated cassava as it is more convenient. I've used it before when making cassava cake and it turned out very good.
Grating is my weakness. I once grated fresh cassava and I was cautious not to grate my fingers too.
To me, fresh or frozen just tasted the same. So to make life easier, I am using frozen cassava.
Anyway, this pichi pichi is delicious and tastier when using milk. If you don't like milk, then you can add water instead.
When using individual mold, it is easier to place the molds in the steamer first, then pour mixture on each mold.
Also, wrap the steamer lid with cheese cloth or any cloth that can absorb droplets of water due to condensation.
The cloth will absorb the water instead of it dripping in the mold.
Equipment needed
- Steamer - a steamer is needed to cook this dessert. Make sure to cover the lid with a cloth, such as cheesecloth, to prevent water dripping onto the pichi pichi.
- Molds - you will need a few molds to make this dessert. The mold I used was almost 3 inches wide x 1 inch height. If your mold is smaller, you’ll end up with more servings.
- Coconut or cheese grater
Pichi pichi dessert video
It is easy to make pichi pichi, just follow the instructions and you’ll have this sticky dessert in no time.
If you are still intimidated, watch my video. Enjoy!
Try other delicious cassava recipe
Cassava Suman
Nilupak
Cassava Cake
Recipe
Pichi Pichi Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 16 oz or 2 cups grated cassava
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 ½ cup evaporated milk
- 1 teaspoon lye water
- ½ teaspon pandan essence
- ¾ cup grated matured coconut
Instructions
- Combine cassava, sugar and milk in a bowl and mix well.
- Add lye water and continue stirring.
- Stir in pandan essence and mix.
- Once well blended, grease each mold with oil. Note: Spray a paper towel with olive oil and wipe each mold.
- Add water in the steamer and place on the stove. Bring to a boil, then lower heat.
- Place molds in the steamer and pour cassava mixture on each individual mold. About ¾ full per mold.
- Cover or wrap the steamer lid with cheese cloth so water doesn’t drip into the pichi pichi.
- Steam for 40 to 45 minutes or until mixture becomes translucent.
- Remove from steamer and let it cool down.
- Once cool, remove each pichi pichi from mold and roll it over the grated coconut.
- Serve. Enjoy!
Notes
- Ok to substitute milk with 1 ½ cups water.
- Instead of grating fresh cassava, it is easier to put it in a food processor or blender.
- Want to learn how to grate a coconut click the link.
- Makes 16 pieces using a mold size of 2 ½ inch (diameter) x 1 inch (height).
Nutrition
Raven says
How many pieces per serving?
Fortune says
Hi Raven,
16 pieces and mold size is 2 1/2 in (diameter) by 1 inch (height). Hope you like it!
Yvette says
Hello! Thanks for sharing your recipe! Can I use frozeb
Cassava ?
Fortune says
Your welcome! Yes, I used frozen cassava much easier.
Top Chef says
what can you substitute the lye water
Fortune says
I have always used lye water so I can't recommend anything.