Suman

Vanjo Merano’s selected suman sa lihiya is a Filipino rice cake made from glutinous rice and lye water, wrapped in banana leaf. This version is boiled in tied packets and served with a separately chosen sweet accompaniment.

The glutinous rice soaks in water first. Excess water is drained, the lye water is stirred through the rice, and the mixture stands before wrapping.

Two sizes of banana-leaf pieces are prepared, with the smaller piece placed in the middle of the larger one. Fresh leaves are briefly heated over a flame to make them flexible, then each packet receives a portion of rice mixture and is folded and secured with kitchen twine.

The wrapped packets go into a cooking pot with enough water. The water is brought to a boil and the packets simmer before being moved to a serving dish.

The recipe offers white sugar, brown sugar or latik alongside the finished cakes. Merano also describes suman as a breakfast option with hot chocolate, keeping that drink separate from the leaf-wrapped rice.