Sweet Filipino Snack Pandan Pichi-Pichi
Pandan Pichi-Pichi is Amber’s Restaurant’s new delight and has become my favorite. I really like the way it tastes; it is sweet, soft, and chewy with the garnishing of grated coconut.
I tried making it at home but failed the first few times, and then I found the right way. Now, I can proudly say my Pandan Pichi-Pichi tastes almost similar to the Amber Restaurant.
If you want to know the hidden secret, don’t worry; you’ll find everything in this blog. I’ll share the simplest way of making Pandan Pichi-Pichi at home. Let’s get into the details!
Interesting Fact!
Pichi-Pichi originated in Lucban, province of Quezon. It’s linked to the colorful Pahiyas Festival, where locals believe this delicacy was first created.
Price and servings on Amber menu:
| Serving Size | Price |
|---|---|
| 12 pieces | ₱ 90.00 |
| 20 pieces | ₱ 150.00 |
| 40 pieces | ₱ 300.00 |
What Makes Pandan Pichi-Pichi So Delicious?
In my opinion, the ingredients are the reason why Pandan Pichi-Pichi turns out so delicious. Its main ingredients are grated cassava, coconut, and pandan flavor; when all of these ingredients come together, they make this delicious delight that no one can forget. Let’s learn about the reasons in more detail!
Taste:
The blend of sweet cassava and creamy coconut makes it so delicious that every bite brings you a blast of tropical deliciousness that is impossible to resist.
Softness:
The pichi-pichi has the perfect soft texture—not hard, not too fluffy, not too chewy, and it melts in your mouth. It is perfectly soft from the right cooking of cassava and a balanced portion of grated coconut.
Let’s Make Pandan Pichi-Pichi at Home
Let’s make Pandan Pichi-Pichi at home following the simplest way.
Key-Ingredients:
- Two cups of grated cassava
- One teaspoon lye water
- One teaspoon of pandan flavor
- Grated coconut
- One cup sugar
- One cup water
Cooking Instructions:
- Start by taking a bowl and adding grated cassava to it. You can prepare the grated cassava at home using fresh cassava root, but it’s a time-consuming process, this is why I always use frozen grated cassava. It’s available in almost all Asian supermarkets.
- Add sugar and water to the grated cassava and make sure to mix everything (till the sugar dissolves in the water) for perfect results.
- Once sugar is dissolved, pour lye water and pandan flavor, then again mix everything. This time, you’ll see the mixture getting the pandan flavor color (green), so mix well till all ingredients are evenly combined, and the color is consistent throughout the mixture.
- Now, it’s time to prepare for steaming. Take small molds or cups and grease them lightly with oil to prevent the pichi-pichi from sticking. Fill each mold about three-quarters full of the green cassava mixture, leaving some space for the pichi-pichi to expand while cooking.
- Place the filled molds carefully in your steamer. Steam the pichi-pichi for approximately 40 to 45 minutes or until you notice that they have fully cooked.
- After steaming, remove the molds from the heat and allow them to cool for a few minutes. Be patient during this step, as the pichi-pichi needs to set a bit more and become cool enough to handle safely.
- Once they’re cool enough, gently remove the pichi-pichi from the molds, being careful not to break their delicate shape.
- The final step is coating your pichi-pichi. Spread the grated coconut on a plate or shallow bowl, then roll each piece of pichi-pichi in the coconut, ensuring an even coating all around. This not only adds a wonderful texture but also enhances the flavor of the desert.
Nutritional Profile of Pandan Pichi-Pichi
Here’s the nutritional profile of Pandan Pichi-Pichi. It’s based on the ingredients I’ve used, so it may vary depending on the ingredients.
| Calories | 105 kcal |
| Proteins | 0.36 g |
| Total Fats | 1.1 g |
| Carbohydrates | 24.2 g |
| Fiber | 0.67 g |
FAQs
Conclusion
Now, you can try the famous Filipino snack Pandan Pichi-Pichi at home and enjoy it with your family. I would highly recommend you to make it, especially if there’s an occasion like when your friends are coming on Sunday evenings. It’s the best snack to serve and share with loved ones.
