Kuih Ang Koo

Mung Bean Ang Koo
(tortoise shaped rice cakes filled with sweet mung bean)



Ang koo kuih,, is a small round or oval shaped Chinese pastry with soft sticky skin and fillings in the centre. The oval shaped Ang ku kuih, is designed to resemble a tortoise shell. Oval or round, the Ang ku kuih, rests on a square piece of banana leaf.
Ang koo kuih, is usually red in color as suggested by its name literally translated as “red tortoise cake” Despite the color definition in the name, other common colors include yellow, grey, and green. The colors indicate the type of fillings inside the pastry. Traditional filings include bean paste, sesame, pandan and peanut. New flavors like durian have emerged reflecting manufacturer’s continuous innovation to incorporate popular tastes.
Tortoise symbolizes longevity and when the Ang koo kuih is shaped like a tortoise shell, it creates a high symbolic and ritual value.
Stained with a bright red/orange ,this is a sweet prepared on auspicious occasion.It is especially made for celebrations such as birthdays and baby’s full moon.It is also popular as an altar table offering.The bean filled kuih is common to all the Chinese dialect groups,but is especially linked to the hokkiens .They are formed in wooden moulds to resemble the shell of a tortoise(koo) ,the Chinese symbol of longevity and prosperity.Nowadayz the moulds can be bought plastic made and has different type of design.The fillings also varies to suit the taste of the people.



This is the mould that I used. It comes in 2 sizes,large and small.
I used the smaller mould which yielded 29 pieces of ang koo


Filling:
250g skinless green bean/mung bean
200gm sugar
A pinch of salt
5 tbsp oil

Started dough
50gm flour
30g sugar
4 oz water
Orange red colouring

Dough
250g glutinous flour
6 oz water
2 tbsp oil

Banana leaf ,cut into rectangles to place the ang koo
Extra oil for brushing


To make filling:
Prepare a day ahead:
Wash and soak the green bean for 2 hours. Steam over rapidly boiling water for 20-30mins.When cool, make into a paste with your hand.The bean will be easy to handle after steaming and breaks easily with your hands. Transfer the paste into a pot, add in salt,sugar and oil and stir continuously in low heat until the filling comes together.Cool before shaping into marble size balls.Refrigerate to use the next day.
Starter dough
Combine the ingredients in a saucepan and cook (for about 5mins)over low flame.Stirring at all times. In between take the saucepan from heat and keep stirring and place back on heat to cook further.This method prevents the dough from burning or cuddling up fast .Work until the dough comes together. Cool.

Combine the starter dough with glutinous flour, orange colouring ,add in oil and mix with hand to combine the ingredients.Slowly pour in water to combine the dough until they bind together.You will get a smooth dough.Cover with a towel to prevent skin forming on the dough.

To mould, flatten dough ball and place filling in the center.Wrap the dough evenly and shape into a ball again.Press the dough into a lightly floured mould .Knock gently to dislodge the ang koo.Flour the mould each time before placing the dough to make into shape.

Lightly oil a piece of banana leaf and place the ang koo on it.Repeat until you use up the dough.
Steam the ang koo kuihs in medium heat for 4 to 5mins in rapid boiling water.Cover the lid with a kitchen towel to prevent the steam to fall on the kuihs.
Lift the lid every 2 mins or so to de pressurise ,this is to prevent the kuihs from expanding and erasing the design on the kuihs.
Remove from the steamer and brush each kuihs with oil to have a glossy look and also to prevent it from sticking .When cool, trim the banana leaf neatly around the kuihs.

Adapted from :Flavour Magazine,Oct 2003 issue.


The above Kuih Ang Koo heads its way to the MLLA -24 Event started by Susan from The Well Seasoned Cook and at present hosted by Spain In Iowa



Pandan Ang Koo




Starter dough same as above.

Dough
250g glutinous flour
1 oz screwpine leaf juice /pandan juice (cut 2 leaves into a few segments and blender with some water to extract juice)
5 oz water
Green colouring
2 tbsp oil

Mix the above ingredients with the starter dough .Follow steps as above.

Filling:

3 cups grated coconut
100gm brown sugar (or more)
2 tbsp water
1 screwpine leaf(knotted)
1 tsp corn flour mix with 1 tbsp water

In a wok, add in all the ingredients accept the corn flour mixture. Stir continuously until the filling bind together. Finally add in the corn flour mixture.Discard the leaf.Leave the filling to cool.

Do not have Ang Koo moulds? Click here to get one!!