Bhapa Pitha (Bangladeshi Steamed Rice Cakes with Coconut and Jaggery)
Soft, steamed rice flour parcels filled with warm coconut and jaggery. A Bangladeshi winter treat.
- Time50 mins
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £0.47 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Make the filling first. Put the coconut, jaggery, 3 tbsp water and cardamom in a pan and cook gently for 4 minutes, until sticky and damp but not wet. Cool.
4 min - 2
Put the rice flour and salt in a heatproof bowl. Pour in the boiling water, stir with a spoon, then knead with oiled hands for 3 minutes into a soft, smooth dough. Cover so it does not dry out.
- 3
Divide into 12 pieces. Roll each into a ball, then press into a flat disc about 8 cm wide, thin at the edges.
- 4
Put a heaped teaspoon of filling in the middle, fold over into a half moon and press the edges to seal. Or gather the edges up to make a small purse.
- 5
Grease a steamer basket lightly with coconut oil and line it with baking paper. Steam the pithas over boiling water, in batches, for 12 to 15 minutes, until glossy and firm.
14 min - 6
Serve warm. The filling is hot, so let them cool for 2 minutes.
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.
