THAI PUMPKIN DESSERT

Health benefits of pumpkin

Pumpkin contains lots of goodness like antioxidant, carotenoids, particularly alpha hydroxy-acids, beta-carotenes, it’s a good source of vitamins A, C, K, E and lots of minerals, including magnesium, potassium, zinc and iron.Pumpkin help to reduce the sign of aging.

Sangkaya

Sankaya or Thai pumpkin dessert is a Thai-style inside out pumpkin pie in which a lightly sweetened coconut milk and egg custard is steamed inside of a hollowed out pumpkin. A perfect balance of textures, the steamed egg custard inside shows the influence of the Portuguese on Thai cuisine, who introduced the idea of adding eggs to desserts in the 1600's. In Thailand, Sankaya is a popular street vendor sweet.

Palm sugar/Gula Melaka

Ingredients
1 pumpkin weight 1.5kg
3 large eggs
150 mls thick coconut milk
75 mls water
60 gm palm sugar/ gula melaka / (IF BROWN SUGAR USE 100GM)
(CAN USE BROWN SUGAR IF PALM SUGAR NOT AVAILABLE IN YOUR COUNTRY)
1 tbsp rice flour
1/4 tsp pandan paste (optional)
pinch of cinnamon
pinch of salt

1. Wash and scrub pumpkin, dry with towel.
2. Cut about 1/4 of the upper part pumpkin, keep aside.
3. Scoop out the pulp and seeds, put pumpkin aside.
4. Melt the palm sugar with 75mls water.
5. Mix coconut milk, rice flour, pandan paste, cinnamon, salt till well blend.
Add the palm sugar mixture.
6. Beat egg slightly, add into the coconut mixture, sieve 3 times.
7. Prepare steamer. ( Wait till water boil before put in the pumpkin.)
8. Pour the egg mixture into the pumpkin about 3/4 full, put the pumpkin on a stainless steel plate, put the pumpkin lid at the side, steam for 45 mins or till custard cook using high heat.
9. Cool completely and chill in the fridge before cutting.

I cut the pumpkin when it's still warm

Preferably to cut after chilled 8 hours in the fridge

Pumpkin Seed

The seeds are also worth latching on to. Pumpkin seeds, also called pepitas, are loaded with minerals, seem to have an anti-inflammatory effect, and may even help protect against prostate cancer and osteoporosis. A quarter cup has about 5 grams of effective carb and 1.5 grams of fiber.

Uncooked pumpkin seed.

1. Rinse pumpkin seeds under cold water and pick out the pulp. Dry the pumpkin seed with towel.

2. Place the pumpkin seeds in a single layer on an oiled baking sheet, stirring to coat.

3. Sprinkle with salt and bake at 150 deg c until toasted, about 25 minutes, checking and stirring after 10 minutes.

4. Cool completely and store in air tight container.

Toasted pumpkin seed

Have a beautiful Sunday to all my friends.