This releases the natural aroma of the leaf and makes it more flexible. Learn how your comment data is processed. Remove the pot from heat and let it sit for another 10-15 minutes to allow the rice to cool. Over medium heat, bring to a boil until it curdles and turn into curds. Once the rice is cooked, the grains double in size and stick to one another, to become a larger solid log. When serving, unwrap and discard the banana or coconut leaf wrapper. There are at least 15 varieties of rice in the Philippines. She's a chef that educates others about Filipino food and culture through pop-up dinners, recipes, and cookbooks. Remove from steamer. With a damp cloth, gently wipe surfaces of banana leaves to remove any dirt or grit. Mix with a spoon. Steam over medium heat for about 45 minutes. Single layer or on top of each other. Indeed, nothing like sticky rice and mangoes . She published her own cookbook in 2019. It's then served hot with a generous sprinkle of muscovado sugar on top and/or with a side of sweet ripe mango. We usually buy banana leaves frozen so once they are thawed, wash them thoroughly, dry them and cut them into rectangular shapes of equal sizes (I make mine roughly 78 inches). Over high flames, quickly pass leaves for about 3 to 5 seconds to wilt. Copyright 2016-2023 The Unlikely Baker , Bourbon Pecan Pie Bars with Shortbread Crust (Video), Classic Buttermilk Scones Easy, Delicious, Done in 15 Minutes, Chicken Sopas Recipe (Chicken Macaroni Soup Filipino Style), Champorado Recipe (Filipino Chocolate Rice Porridge), Suman Malagkit (Filipino Sticky Rice Cake Recipe). Over medium heat, cook for about 45 minutes to 1 hour or until rice is fully cooked. You can try teaspoon of baking soda dissolved in 1 cup of water then boiling the mixture for 5 minutes. Serve with sugar. Suman, once served, can either be eaten on its own or will need a dip. Thank you. Though suman is a snack recipe, suman can also be eaten during breakfast and partnered with either coffee or hot chocolate. Without banana leaf what can in use? Salamat sa recipe ng pang ibabaw gagawin ko yan , Suman sa Ibus Filipino Sticky Rice Logs If you have an electric stove, you can set your oven to low broil and place 1-2 leaves in the oven at a time for about 30 seconds then bring out. The rice mixture is spooned onto a banana leaf and wrapped tightly. It should be good up to a week. Its seriously so good youd want it on EVERYTHING. After the industrialization of agriculture, the Philippines produced more rice and the crop eventually became everyday fare to be enjoyed by all, spinning off countless rice-based dishes and snacks, including a vast array of baked, steamed, and boiled rice-based snacks called kakanin, derived from two Tagalog words: kain (to eat) and kanin (rice). After that, it starts to dry up. Instant Filipino Recipes: My Mothers Traditional Philippine Cooking in A Multicooker Pot by Elizabeth Ann Besa-Quirino, Homemade Cheese Crackers with Queso de Bola, Lumpiang Tinapa: Fried Egg Rolls with Smoked Fish, Pho Noodles Soup with Pork and Vegetables, Spanish Cocido and Coconut Leche Flan for the New Year. I almost always pair my suman with a cup of coffee to balance the sweet with a little bitter. In a wok or heavy pot, combine rice, coconut milk, sugar and salt. Prep Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 45 mins Total Time: 1 hr Course :Dessert, Snack Servings =6 pieces Ingredients US Customary Metric 2 cups glutinous rice 2 cups water - for soaking 1 teaspoon lye water (lihiya) banana leaves - for wrapping FOR THE LATIK TOPPING: can coconut milk (cream) 1 cup grated coconut - for topping In fact, I have a few recipes with it as the main ingredient, such as pichi-pichi, cassava cake, nilupak, and puto lansonon the blog. Cover and cook for 2 hours. It think rinsing it, is sufficient enough. Friends of my wife made it in Mindanao. Tibok Tibok is a creamy and flavorful Kapampangan delicacy. I loved that and I bet I will love this! Check the water level every now and then. Suman (pronounced soo-man)is a personal favourite. Fried suman is delicious! Thank you for sharing your recipe and expertise. 1 tsp. And my other idea is using condensed milk Ube flavor as another choice of dipping sauce. The wrapping in itself is an art form. Thank you. Suman sa lihiya is a delicious Filipino sweet sticky rice cake, that is commonly serve for snack but can also be served for dessert. With tongs, remove suman from water and allow to cool. Soak glutinous rice overnight for better results. 2. Use butcher's twine to tie suman at each end. Delicious! Steamed suman can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 1 week or frozen for up to 3 months. Let the temperature cool down before wrapping. Which makes them perfect candidates for frying (see above). In the meantime, you can get your banana leaves ready. So when I look longingly at suman, those days come back to me. We eat this waiting for midnight new years eve. Suman goes well with a sprinkling of sugar or laden with latik (coconut curd). Pass over the banana leaves on a gas flame to make it soft. One dunk of my suman in that glorious liquid gold and mangoes were all but forgotten. Get fresh recipes, cooking tips, deal alerts, and more! Thanks a bunch Lalaine! Were sorry but we do not take orders. Leave a star rating today! Thank you. (16 ounces each) frozen grated cassava, thawed and drained or 4 cups freshly grated. Thank you for the great rating. But even then we either sprinkle granulated sugar on it or pair it with fresh, sweet mangoes or do both. Quickly pass the banana leaves over high flames to help soften and make easier to fold. Its a filling snack or dessert and delicious with a cup of hot chocolate, coffee, or tea. can frozen coconut milk, thawed 1 (16 oz.) Leticia. If water evaporates, add some more to cover the rice logs. Ive had it in Mindanao and now here in Palawan. There are many versions of suman, which vary among regions and even from island to island and are distinguished by the kind of wrapper used or the methods employed to cook them. If your steamer is not large enough to fit all the suman, you can either steam in batches, set up two side-by-side steamers to cook the suman at once, or use a stacking bamboo steamer. We wish you success though if you ever try the recipe. Read More. Cover pot with lid. . Drain the excess water from the rice and add it to the wok with the ginger. Cassava Suman is a Filipino delicacy of steaming a mixture of grated cassava, coconut milk, and sugar in banana leaves. The bigger leaf should measure about 12 by 10 inches while the smaller is 4 by 5 inches. Remove from the pot and transfer them in a serving dish. It is then wrapped in soft banana leaves then boiled until the glutinous rice is cooked. Merry Christmas !! Suman can be bought from Markets, Supermarkets, and Specialty Stores, and even by the ambulant vendor making his or her rounds in the different neighborhoods. Soaking will make your suman fluffier and softer. Rinsing the rice helps remove the slight odor from the lye since it was soaked overnight in the mixture. washed and cut into 8 x 8 inch squares (frozen, from Asian markets), or use fresh. Mom used to sprinkle white granulated sugar over the entire sticky suman. Wilt banana leaves in boiling water; line a 139-inch pan with leaves. I could not find lye water near my location, is there a substitute for that and what how much do I need for a 3 cups glutinous rice. Servings 12 Servings. Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment. This post may contain affiliate links. Thank you for sharing! This suman bulagta recipe is abasic variation. Simmer cook for 1 hours. Measure 1/2 cup of rice and put on banana leaves. The process of covering the suman with the banana leaf will also take a long time since youll want to brush the banana leaf with a little cooking oil so as not to make the suman stick so much to the banana leaf. Sometimes my dad wouldnt bother with them either and just steam the rice in little containers. Hello Po, pag na thew na yung frozen cassava, un ba lahat ilalagay sa mixture pati ung liquid after thewing? Turn-on heat then let boil. Lets stick to the banana leaves for now and lets eat suman. Its known as kamoteng kahoyin the Philippines and yuca or manioc in Spanish-speaking countries and the U.S. Its a staple food crop used in various culinary applications such as alcoholic beverages, noodles, bread, chips, cakes, and tapioca flour. Bring to a boil. Remove from the pot and transfer them in a serving dish. You'll need a pair of leaves per serving. To make the banana leaves more pliable, heat the leaves over an open flame but be careful not to burn them. This Filipino cake is tasty, filling, and gluten-free. Best of luck and keep me posted . And the reward at the end is more than worth it. If I close my eyes in reverie, I can smell the herbal fragrance of the steamed leaves that encased the sticky log and the tropical fruity scent of the golden yellow mango slice. The version I learned had sugar in it and you had to cook the mixture on the stove and stir for a looooong time! August 18, 2014 at 12:32 pm. Glad you liked them Tina! Happy Holidays! I used to enjoy watching my moms hands prepare the suman snack for us, while she peeled off the light yellow coconut leaf wrapper, which coiled into a long curly strip. INGREDIENTS: 2 cups white glutinous rice 1 1/2 cans (13.5 oz) coconut milk 1/2 cup sugar 1 teaspoon salt banana leaves for wrapping HOW TO MAKE SUMAN: Rinse the rice until water runs clear then drain. Your email address will not be published. You can easily double or triple the recipe as needed. Bnh Nm (Vietnamese Steamed Rice Dumplings With Shrimp and Pork), Arroz con Gandules (Puerto Rican Rice With Pigeon Peas), Filipino Food 101: Recipes to Get You Started, Leaf-Wrapped Winter Squash With Pork and Shiitakes Recipe, Lo Mai Gai (Chinese Sticky Rice Wrapped in Lotus Leaf) Recipe, Champorado (Filipino Rice Porridge With Chocolate), Cochinita Pibil (Yucatn-Style Barbecued Pork) Recipe. Hi Thelma. SUMAN MALAGKIT Watch on Ingredients US Customary Metric 2 cups glutinous rice 2 cups coconut milk cup sugar Pinch of salt Young banana leaves Shop Recipe Powered by Instructions Young banana leaves Clean the banana leaves using a wet cloth. I knew I wanted to make this the momeent I saw it because your photos with the mango reminded me of a dessert I had vacationing in Thailand. mhadel says. Arrange the banana-wrapped rice mixture with folded side down on the steamer basket. I love creating free content full of tips for my readers, you. Youll need a pair of leaves per serving. To make and wrap the suman: Drain the water from the soaked sticky rice. Please read my disclosure policy. Hi, can I use brown sugar and would it be same amount as the sugar called for in the recipe? I checked one pair and it looked under cooked. Ssssshhhhh! Biko Kalamay Sweet, sticky rice cake made with glutinous rice, coconut milk, and brown sugar. (To learn how to make tsokolate or Filipino hot chocolate, check this out. Eat it with mangoes in the summer or dip it in tsokolate in the winter. Delicious as a snack or dessert! What sets it apart is that its grilled in charcoal rather than steamed or boiled. Panlasang Pinoy. You can also dip it in sugar if you like. Lalo ngayong sembreak and all saints day. We make rice desserts and snacks. Its not cooked yet but all your instructions were followed. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators., Mention @KawalingPinoy and hashtag your photo with #KawalingPinoy, Welcome to Kawaling Pinoy. Have a question? Im not really comfy with plastic in high heat. I recommend letting the water come to a boil first before you add the suman to steam, so youll have a more accurate cooking time than if you load the whole thing up and then wait for the steam to start. Your email address will not be published. Yes, they are delicious, there are some similarities with Mexican tamales but instead of the corn dough mixture, we use glutinous rice. Preparation Cook the rice as you normally do. Theres suman latiksticky rice cake served with coconut caramel and curdsand suman sa lihiya, which is made with lye. This is how my grandma does it, this is how my dad does it, so this is how we do it as well. Hi, maybe I misunderstood, but I was reading your recipe for the suman, and you mentioned about using soap and water to clean the banana leaves. If you wish to republish this recipe or content on media outlets mentioned above, please ASK MY PERMISSION, or re-write it in your own words and link back to my blog AsianInAmericaMag.com to give proper attribution. Suman sa Lihia No Banana Leaves Needed | Mix N CookGood day! Oooh this sounds AND looks so delicious! Alternatively spread the banana leaf squares on a baking sheet and bake for 2 minutes at 500F (260); this stp is to help make the banana leaves more liable so they don't crack when folded. This is the best and simple suman recipe that I. Procedure: Rinse the rice until water runs clear then drain. Soaking the rice overnight helps develop to a softer, fluffier texture and reduces the overall cooking time. (To learn how to make tsokolate or Filipino hot chocolate, check this out. This is awesome, btwhope you try it next time . Ive never had anything quite like it! Place a banana leaf on a flat surface and brush with coconut oil. Place a layer of banana leaves over suman and a plate on top to weigh them down. How To Make Suman Filipino Sweet Rice Recipe In Banana Leaves - YouTube This video will teach you how to make suman Filipino sweet rice. What I do instead is I gently wash it with warm water. Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @kawalingpinoy on Facebook and Instagram! Lay out one piece of banana leaf on a flat, dry surface. When I was young kid had a sumac with a mixed color purple rice what is that called and where to get that rice ? Remove from the steamer and carefully unwrap to enjoy. Briefly pass the banana leaves over low fire to soften and become more pliable. Remove the spine and trim (size preference). Reply. Yung coconut milk po ba ay yung mismong first na gata? If youre adding additional water to prevent the steamer from going dry, make sure to get it up to boiling first so that you don't drop the temperature and cut the steam off midway through cooking. And I'm definitely a late bloomer, a thoroughly unexpected baker. How to make Suman without banana leaves? Repeat the process until you finish all the rice. What I can suggest, when boiling the suman, you need to inter-change the position of the suman every 30 minutes. 5. Your email address will not be published. Rinse the rice 3-4 times or until the water runs clear. You can change some of the ingredients, the wrapper, and the shape and still make something understood to be suman. Hi Teresa, But I used frozen banana leaves, which was available in Asian markets here in America. Now that I know what it is, I want to make it, Thanks, Amanda. Suman malagkit is a Filipino delicacy thats made of glutinous rice and coconut milk, wrapped in banana leaves, then steamed to sticky perfection. Goodluck! If you are using fresh frozen banana leaves, it is better to just wash it in warm water. Suman sa ibus, the Filipino sticky rice log only has three ingredients : sticky rice, coconut milk, salt. Tucked inside was suman (a steamed sticky rice cake), mwasi (a boiled rice patty topped with shredded coconut and muscovado sugar), baye-baye (a mochi-like cylindrical cake made with toasted young or glutinous rice, grated coconuts, and muscovado sugar), and sometimes a version of a donut twist called bicho-bicho. Once cool, slice into sixteen 1- by 4-inch rectangular rice cakes. Handle the leaf lightly and gingerly, they tend to break if you get too forceful. Although it will be more delicious if you will use banana leaves for its distinct flavor, this recipe and procedure is good enough to satisfy your cravings for suman sa lihiya just in case you don't have banana leaves on hand. It is made from glutino. Simmer for about 30 minutes over medium heat while stirring constantly then reduce to lower heat. You can skip tying the ends of the suman if you are steaming them. On the other hand, bitter cassava requires more extensive processing and is used in making flours and starches. Suman is a rice cake made from glutinous rice cooked in coconut milk (gata) until al dente. As it contains cyanogenic glucosides. Bring this to a boil then lower heat to a simmer. Submit your question or comment below. To store unused fresh banana leaves, wrap tightly in plastic, transfer to a zipper-lock bag, and freeze for up to 3 months. With deliciously sweet and sticky rice cake drizzled with rich and creamy sauce, this Filipino delicacy is seriously addictive. If the leaves are freshly-picked from the tree, its obvious they need to be washed. heres how to make delicious Kewk-Kwek snacks with tokneneng suka vinegar sauce, delicious Filipino Banana Bread you have to try. Please DO NOT LIFT OR PLAGIARIZE my original recipe, stories, photos or videos. Would returning the batch to the pot and boil it another hour make them tender? Thank you! Drain excess water from the mixing bowl then rinse the rice thoroughly. Copyright Notice: Hello, Friends! Suman sa lihiya is a delicious Filipino sweet sticky rice cake, that is commonly serve for snack but can also be served for dessert. These are eaten as snacks for merienda, the afternoon snack a few hours before dinner. Lay out one piece of banana leaf on a flat, dry surface. To serve, peel leaves and drizzle suman with coconut caramel sauce. STEAM. Maraming salamat po. If using frozen banana leaves, do not run them over flames. In a pot, arrange suman with folded side down and add enough water to cover at about 1-inch. This means BY LAW you are NOT allowed to copy, scrape, lift, frame, plagiarize or use my photos, essays, stories and recipe content on your websites, books, films, television shows, videos, without my permission. Suman is best kept in the fridge because of the coconut milk. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Rinse the rice until water runs clear then drain. Simmer cook for 1 hours. Bring to a boil. Her photos looked delectable; I couldnt wait to sink my teeth into my own batch of this classic Filipino treat. In a 4-quart pot, combine rice with coconut milk, sugar, and salt. I love trying different cuisines. Add grated cassava and sugar in a bowl. Adding macapuno sounds delicious! especially if using a small pot and if the rice was not soaked. You can even add a scoop of ice cream and make it suman la mode. They are then wrapped in banana leaves and steamed until fully cooked and sticky. by Jolina | Published: November 15, 2019 | Last Updated: February 9, 2022 Japanese With Ease: For a limited time free: Rinse the rice until water runs clear then drain. Pour coconut milk in a pan. Apo area, a version with purple mountain rice. Fold both ends and tie with kitchen twine. A rice cake originating from the Philippines. Hi Cathy, Fill a large pot with about 4 inches water and place the steamer insert inside (make sure water doesn't come above steamer floor). There are also different suman types in the Philippines, depending on the region or province. Rinse the glutinous rice after soaking. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. I searched all the recipe of suman sa lihiya and youre the only one who rinse the mixture after soaking I just like to know what is the purpose of rinsing the rice mixture just asking. Simple is always best though and this is what this recipe is all about. Soak the glutinous rice in water for an hour to cook evenly and more quicker. In the Aurora province, surfers snack on black rice suman. This releases the natural aroma of the leaf and makes it more flexible. A pinch of Salt Water *this ratio is 1 cup to 0.75 cups of water Banana leaves Please keep in mind, all measurements is up to your taste. The suman is steamed until the rice is fat and fluffy. Hi Azu, One technique I can share with you is NOT to run the leaves over the fire to make it softer it will most likely be brittle and easily breaks. rice cake, suman, suman bulagta, suman sa lihiya. Note: Fresh banana leaves can be heated directly in fire for a very short time. I love it. Glad to hear these Suman brought back memories for you. The key to making a good suman is soaking the rice ahead of time to help fully hydrate the grains and cut down on your cooking time. If the cassava is cooked for an hour and you see white specs (cassava itself), does this mean its not fully cooked? Drain water from the suman bundles. Suman Malagkit with Coconut Caramel Sauce steamed in banana leaves is the perfect snack or dessert. Yana Gilbuena was born in the Philippines. Fresh or frozen banana leaves can be purchased at Asian markets and online. Do you take orders to go? Prepare the banana leaves. Scoop about 3 tbsp of the rice mixture and place it over the smaller leaf. Hi Patty! Preparing the latik (coconut milk curd) We made suman for the first time. I share a recipe for Suman sa Ibus that cooks faster in the Instant Pot in my newest cookbook. Aside from being a snack, it can also be considered as a pasalubong for the children or as souvenirs, especially if you came from the province that is popular for their version of suman. The next day, once the coconut milk and salt are added, wrap the rice mixture in the leaves and boil them. Place your suman in a steamer and steam for about an hour to allow the rice to fully cook. Quickly pass the banana leaves over high flames to help soften and make them easier to fold. Wrapping and steaming the suman in banana leaves imparts a distinct floral flavor that adds complexity. You will know its cooked because the suman logs would have gotten plumper and nearly double in size. how to make tsokolate or Filipino hot chocolate, check this out, Champorado or Filipino chocolate rice porridge. Using a fine-mesh strainer, drain rice, discarding the soaking water. Use kitchen twine rather than plastic straw rope. You can serve suman hot, cold or room temperature. In a small bowl, combine rice and 1 quart (945ml) water. A friend of mine requested this, so here it is, your favorite Filipino dessert :) 3.7K. Whats the alternative if I do not have banana leaves? Good recipe I will make again and put macapuno. Did you make this Filipino sticky rice cake recipe? Add latik and shredded young coconut meat on top of cassava mixture. Notice: JavaScript is required for this content. Growing up in the Philippines, I was often woken from my siesta by the rhythmic chanting of street vendors, whose voices echoed through the empty sweltering streets in the late afternoon. Plus, its super easy to make with only three ingredients! Eat it with mangoes in the summer or dip it in tsokolate in the winter. All the tips you'll need to get started in Japanese cooking with, for a limited time, free as our first email: The Complete Japanese With Ease Cookbook. Suman Malagkit with Coconut Caramel Sauce. To reheat, steam for about 3 to 5 minutes or warm in the microwave. 4. Hi Mirasol, This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Its topped with coco jam orlatik. Remove suman from steamer and transfer in a plate. Id love to hear from you in the comments section below. I will perfect my parchment method and let you konw. You will notice the rice grains would have plumped up a bit. All the tips you'll need to get started in Japanese cooking with, for a limited time, free as our first email: The Complete Japanese With Ease Cookbook. Suman budbud is similar to suman Tagalog but stuffed with chocolate. LET SIT. If using frozen banana leaves, defrost in the refrigerator overnight before using. It is typically dipped in sugar or coconut jam. Different people wrap suman differently. Thanks, Rashda/Mina. Ideally this type of suman (say sooh-man)) is wrapped in coconut leaves. It is the legal thing to do. Arrange the banana leaves by laying down the larger leaf first in a flat surface then place the smaller leaf in the center of the larger leaf. Hi Marilyn, I suggested washing the banana leaves with soap and water for hygienic reasons. Fold banana leaf over mixture to enclose and roll tightly into a log. Thank you for the recipe! Bon Appetit! On Panay Island where I was raised, we have at least three different kinds of suman: ibus (eeh-boos), which is the same sticky rice cake but wrapped in buri (palm leaves) and boiled; biko (bee-koh) made with whole rice kernels (not ground rice or rice flour) and cooked with coconut milk and brown sugar, then slathered with latik, a coconut caramel sauce, and baked (unlike most suman, biko is not wrapped in leaves, but it's still understood by most to be a type of suman); and alupi (ah-loo-pee), which is a grated cassava suman. Love suman! However you want to enjoy them, suman is delicious! Make sure all of the rice is fully submerged. Ive definitely burned the bottom of a pot while making suman and thats something we want to avoid: As you cook the rice, it releases starch that will stick to the bottom and sometimes sides of the pot if not stirred constantly. Thank you for the recipe! My channel is all about the food I cook, travel and memories I shared with my family. My mother made suman all the time in the Philippines but when I move to Japan I dont bother because of all the steps. Glutinous rice is soaked in water for several hours before putting-in a portion of lye water and wrapping each serving in soft banana leaves. One of the absolute faves of my childhood! And my Filipina wife made it for me here in Palawan just recently. When setting up your steamer, make sure you always have enough water at the bottom and check in between batches and refill as needed. And ingredients turn out to be good to me on a first trythanks, Your email address will not be published. We'll only use your email address for our newsletter and respect your privacy. Use a pot that the suman will fit in snugly, and weigh the suman down with a plate to keep from floating while they boil. Ginataang Mais at Malagkit (Sweet Corn and Glutinous Rice Porridge), Lumpiang Sariwa (Fresh Spring Rolls Recipe). Hi Leticia, Unwrap the banana leaves and enjoy the suman as a midday snack or after-meal dessert. Place 2 tablespoons of the rice mixture in the center of the leaf, arranging the rice in a long, narrow rectangle, about 4 inches long and an inch wide. Remove from steamer and allow to cool and dry slightly before unwrapping. 2 cups (455g) white sticky rice, such as Filipino malagkit (see note), 1 packet fresh or frozen banana leaves, defrosted and cut into eight 10-inch squares (see note), 1/2 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt; for table salt, use half as much by volume, Nonstick cooking spray, for the baking sheet. Cassava Suman is known by various names, depending on where you live in the Philippines. Is this the same / similar? Scoop the rice mixture and place it over the prepared banana leaves. Enjoy this velvet-rich dessert with generous toppings of coconut curd! NOTE: Tie them firmly so the will not come loose when boiling. Mixture is done when rice becomes very sticky and almost dry. Tie with a banana leaf string to keep the banana leaf in place (see the post for step-by-step photos). Simmer for about 30 minutes in medium heat while stirring constantly then reduce to lower heat. However, a look at the ingredients will tell you otherwise. In the afternoons, after siesta and playing in the backyard, my sister and I would come into the house and find a heap of suman sa ibus on a bandehado (oval platter) for our snack. The leaves impart a subtle anise fragrance to food and protect it while it's cooking. My husband poured more coconut milk and says he liked it better that way. No Banana Leaves Needed Suman Sa Lihia - YouTube Suman sa Lihia No Banana Leaves Needed | Mix N CookGood day! Thanks, Pat. banana leaves, cut into about 6 x 6-inch size. Whatever you choose, it will surely be pure pleasure! It is made by steaming the rice then adding in coconut milk. These dips can either be served on the side or in the case of caramelized brown sugar, poured on top of the suman itself. Store leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. My lola makes this all the time! The dark colored rice is naturally sticky. Seal by folding the edges. Suman is very aromatic because of the coconut milk and the banana leaves but theyre generally not very sweet because youre meant to dip them in sugar, latik of coco jam or hot chocolate. Set aside.