Flattened rice is a type of rice dish made from raw, toasted, or parboiled rice grains pounded into flat flakes. They are eaten as is, toasted, fried, or used as ingredients or toppings for other dishes. Depending on their use, they can be crispy, crunchy, chewy, or soft in texture with a light nutty flavor. They are traditional to many rice-cultivating cultures in Southeast Asia and South Asia.[1][2][3] It is also known variously as rice flakes, beaten rice, pounded rice, pressed rice[3] or chipped rice.

South Asia

Poha from India

Flattened rice is a breakfast staple in South Asia where it is known as poha, pauwa, avalakki, chivda, "atukulu” (అటుకులు) or aval (அவல் ) among many other names. It is particularly popular in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. Poha is made by de-husking rice grains and then parboiling or soaking them in hot water for 45 minutes. They are then dried, roasted, and then flattened with rollers. They usually come in thin, medium, and thick varieties. Thinner varieties are ideal for cooking and use in desserts, while thicker varieties are ideal for deep-frying.[3][4]

Poha can be eaten as snacks or cooked into various sweet, savory, or spicy dishes.[3]

Southeast Asia

Cambodia

Flattened rice is known in Cambodia as ambok. It is made by toasting newly-harvested rice (with husks on) on a wok, then pounding the heated rice with a large wooden mortar and pestle until flat. The husks are then removed. Ambok plays a very significant role in the Cambodian Water Festival (Bon Om Touk). They are commonly eaten mixed with bananas, palm sugar, and coconut water; or roasted together with small shrimp.[5][6]

Myanmar

Flattened rice in Myanmar is known as mont hsan (မုန့်ဆန်း). In Lower Myanmar, it is traditionally given as an offering to U Shin Gyi, a guardian nat (spirit) of waterways. Mont hsan is also consumed in the Upper Myanmar, and is used as an ingredient in Burmese sweets called mont.

Philippines

Duman, a variant of pinipig from the Philippines

Flattened rice in the Philippines is called pinipig. It is made using immature glutinous rice grains, giving it a distinctive greenish color. It is de-husked first, pounded in a mortar with a pestle, and then toasted or baked until crisp. They have a crunchy exterior with a chewy center. They are commonly eaten plain, used as toppings in desserts and drinks, or made into cakes.[7][8][9][10]

A notable variant of the pinipig from Pampanga is the duman, which differs in that it is toasted first before being pounded. It is celebrated annually in the Duman Festival of Santa Rita, Pampanga.[11]

Thailand

Flattened rice is known as khao mao in Thailand. Similar to the Philippine variant, it uses immature glutinous rice grains and is also green in color. It is made by soaking de-husked rice grains in water for several hours, steaming it in a bamboo container, toasting it in a wok, and then pounding it flat in a mortar with a pestle.[12]

Vietnam

Cốm from Vietnam

Flattened rice in Vietnam is known as cốm. It is also green in color. It is made by toasting immature rice grains in low heat and then pounding them flat in a mortar with a pestle. The husk is removed afterwards via winnowing. It can be eaten plain, used as an ingredient in other dishes, or made into cakes known as bánh cốm. It is commonly eaten during the Autumn season.[13]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Smit, B.A. (2011). A New Kind of Normal: Back to the Basics a Comprehensive Survival Guide for Eating Sugar -- Gluten -- Dairy and Yeast Free. Tuttle Publishing. p. 143. ISBN 9781426975127.
  2. ↑ Alford, Jeffrey; Duguid, Naomi (2003). Seductions of rice. New York: Artisan Books. p. 30. ISBN 9781579655662.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Bladholm, Linda (2016). The Indian Grocery Store Demystified: A Food Lover's Guide to All the Best Ingredients in the Traditional Foods of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. St. Martin's Publishing Group. pp. 30–31. ISBN 9781250120793.
  4. ↑ Sodha, Meera (2016). Made in India: 130 Simple, Fresh and Flavourful Recipes from One Indian Family. Penguin UK. ISBN 9780241278833.
  5. ↑ "Cambodians Enjoy Ambok-Eating Day". Cambodian Tribune. 9 November 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  6. ↑ Le Fevre, John (10 November 2019). "Khmer gather to eat ork ambok as disruption attempt foiled (photo gallery)". ACC News Today. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  7. ↑ Mellie Leandicho Lopez (2001). A Study of Philippine Games. University of the Philippines Press. p. 139. ISBN 9789715422956.
  8. ↑ Alan Davidson, ed. (2014). The Oxford Companion to Food. Oxford University Press. p. 618. ISBN 9780199677337.
  9. ↑ Jean Donald Bowen, ed. (1965). Beginning Tagalog: A Course for Speakers of English. University of California Press. p. 85. ISBN 9780520001565.
  10. ↑ "Pinipig". Gourmet Sleuth. Archived from the original on 6 July 2015. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  11. ↑ Mary Ann Quioc Tayag (11 December 2002). "For the love of duman". PhilStar. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  12. ↑ Ekasit, O.; Jiraporn, B. (2013). "Some physical characteristics and bioactive compounds of young flattened rice (Khao-Mao)" (PDF). International Food Research Journal: 1323–1328.
  13. ↑ Tran, Rachel (11 February 2020). ""Cốm" (Green Sticky Rice) – Autumn's Special Gift". Vietnam Discovery. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
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