Klepon (Pandan Rice Balls with Palm Sugar)
Soft green rice balls that burst with melted palm sugar and are rolled in fresh coconut. Fun, sticky and very moreish.
- Time45 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £0.50 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
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Method
- 1
Put the glutinous rice flour in a bowl. Mix the warm water with the pandan extract and add it a little at a time, kneading until you have a soft, smooth dough that does not stick to your hands.
- 2
Pinch off walnut sized pieces, about 20 in all. Roll each into a ball, press a hollow in the middle and push in a chip of palm sugar.
- 3
Pinch the dough closed around the sugar and roll it smooth again. Dust a plate with the rice flour and set the balls on it.
- 4
Steam the desiccated coconut with the salt in a steamer for 5 minutes, or microwave it with a splash of water for 1 minute, then tip onto a plate.
5 min - 5
Bring a large pan of water to the boil. Drop in the balls in batches. When they float to the top, cook for 1 more minute.
1 min - 6
Lift out with a slotted spoon, drain for a few seconds and roll straight away in the coconut. Serve warm, within the hour, so the sugar centres are still runny.
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.