Saturday, September 22, 2012

Kutchinta


Kutchinta has been etched in my memory since the good old childhood days.  The vendor we used to buy it from was a Chinese guy.  Kutchinta was not all he sold.  In his two iron canisters, which he balanced on his shoulder with a long bamboo slat, were puto, buchi, hopia and other Chinese baked and fried merienda goodies.  But the kutchinta was my top choice.  There was another variant of which -- rectangular and thicker -- but I prefer the round ones. Kutchinta is best served with fresh grated coconut.   

In Metro Manila, the best kutchinta for me is made by Dolor’s Kakanin where I used to drive all the way to Malabon just to get some.  But they had since opened a branch in Quezon City which is a lot more convenient.

In Bohol, the best kutchinta I had tasted so far is sold by Sariling Hain at BQ Mall Food Court at Tagbilaran City.

Kutchinta is basically made of rice flour, all-purpose flour, brown sugar, anatto seeds and lye (sodium hydroxide).  This bit of lye water in kutchinta is to help give the rice flour batter a jelly like consistency.


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Suggested read:

Manila Bulletin: Vanishing Kakanin

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Sharing with Food Trip Friday and Food Friday 

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12 comments:

  1. i also buy Dolor's kutchinta.
    sarap nito! but without the grated coconut.:p

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    Replies
    1. Isn't Dolor's a great kakanin shop? They even sell roasted peanuts there, which I love.

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    2. Yup, i like their kutchinta too!! I love the small kutchinta from Pangasinan :) I don't eat it w/ coconut also :)

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    3. I used to be dependent upon friends to get me those Pangasinan mini putos and kutchinta ... until I discovered that they have vendors who sell them along Gilmore in New Manila!

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  2. Craving kutchinta now. This has always been my favorite!

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    Replies
    1. You've got to try Dolor's kutchinta, Iska. If ever you find yourself in Quezon City -- Banawe and Retiro -- check it out!

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  3. That is something I must try. Not sure where in Sydney I would find it - maybe Chinatown. it is a beautiful colour too!

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    1. Yes, Chinatown will probably have it, Lorik. After all kustchinta originated in China.

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  4. Kutchinta is still my favorite but every time I buy this kakanin, it always gives me a big disappointment because I couldn't find the original taste that I used to when I was a kid. I'll check Dolor QC and let's see if it'll satisfy my cravings for Kutsinta.

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    Replies
    1. Try Dolor's They have a Web site, too, for directions and contact info. I find the taste and texture of their kutchinta as the closest to the ones I grew up on.

      And please let us know your critique after you've tasted it.

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  5. hubby's fave! i wish i can make them myself since lately our youngest have taken to liking this kakanin, too!

    thanks so much for sharing and linking over at Food Friday, Tito Eric
    ps. so sorry haven't been able to visit you on your first link to Food Friday because my antivirus prevented me...this is what i get:
    "turningboholano.blogspot.com contains content from meditation.ph, a site known to distribute malware. Your computer might catch a virus if you visit this site."
    this time i proceeded, anyway. hope this is just a glitch!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Maiylah,

      I had already written to Google about this malware notice, but they have not responded. I had two friends in the Internet security business whom I had asked to check on it, and they found no malware in my system. It could only be the work of Chinese pirates trying to prevent people from visiting my site. You see, I had in the past posted articles on China's bullish tactics to claim the islands belonging to the Philippines.

      Anyway, I've been ignoring those warnings -- I cannot even take screen shots of which -- and I'm able to see and edit my blog pages without any harm to my system

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