4 Recipes for apem with leftover rice that are soft, fail-proof and don’t go rancid

illustration photo: Gemini AI

Utilizing leftover rice from last night into traditional snacks is a smart trick to minimize food waste at home. One of the most popular preparations is apem nasi, a steamed cake with a soft texture and just the right sweet taste. If you know the technique for processing it correctly, this apem from leftover rice will have a satisfying final result and is of course very easy to make.

What’s even more fun is that this leftover rice apem recipe can be modified to suit your taste. You are free to be creative with various colors and aromas, such as rainbow apem which looks beautiful, palm sugar apem which tastes delicious, to palm sugar apem with a unique, tempting fragrance. Below are several recipe options that you can immediately execute in your own kitchen.

1. Rainbow Rice Apem Cake Recipe

This dish is perfect for those who want to serve snacks with striking visuals. Having a bright color and soft texture, this apem is ideal for serving at family gatherings.

Ingredient 1:

130 grams of leftover white rice
100 grams of granulated sugar.

Ingredient 2:

270 grams of medium protein wheat flour
1 tsp instant yeast
1 tsp salt
Food coloring
450 ml liquid (choose water, coconut milk or coconut water)

How to make

1. Blend the rice with sugar and a little liquid until really soft. Using coconut milk or coconut water will provide a more savory aroma and taste.
2. In another bowl, mix together the flour, yeast and salt.
3. Pour the rice mixture into the flour mixture slowly while adding the remaining liquid until the mixture is smooth.
4. Separate the dough into four parts, add different coloring to each part, then stir.
5. Leave the dough covered for approximately 2 hours until it rises.
6. Prepare a mold that has been greased with oil, pour the colorful mixture alternately.
7. Steam for 20 minutes, then serve after the temperature has cooled.

2. Palm Sugar Rice Apem Recipe

This variety provides a more intense sweet flavor profile with a very prominent aroma.

Material:

100 grams of rice
85-100 grams of palm sugar
1 tsp salt
250 ml water
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp instant yeast
185 grams of flour
2 pandan leaves

Topping: Steamed grated coconut with a little salt.

How to make:

1. Blend the mixture of rice, salt and palm sugar with a little water until smooth.
2. Prepare a large bowl to mix flour, yeast and baking powder.
3. Stir while gradually pouring in the remaining water, then mix in the smooth rice mixture.
4. Let the dough rise for 3 hours in a closed container.
5. Use a mold that has been lined with banana leaves and smeared with oil.
6. The steaming process is carried out for 15 minutes. Serve with grated coconut.

3. Simple Leftover Rice Apem Recipe

This recipe is very suitable for those who want practicality but still get tasty and soft results.

Material:

125 grams of leftover rice
100 grams of granulated sugar
450 ml coconut milk
270 grams of flour
1 tsp instant yeast
1 tsp salt
food coloring

Serve: Steamed grated coconut with a pinch of salt.

How to make:

1. Puree the rice using a blender with sugar and half the amount of coconut milk.
2. Mix the flour and yeast, then slowly pour in the rice solution while continuing to stir.
3. Add the remaining coconut milk and salt, make sure the mixture is smooth.
4. Add coloring according to taste to the dough, cover the container, and wait for 2 hours.
5. Pour into a greased mold and steam for 20 minutes. Enjoy with grated coconut.

4. Recipe for Apem Rice with Leftover Palm Sugar

The characteristic of this recipe is the aroma of palm sugar which is very appetizing.

Material:

75 grams of leftover rice
75 grams of wheat flour
75 grams of rice flour
90 grams of palm sugar
1 tsp instant yeast
250 ml coconut milk
1 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla.

How to make:

1. Puree the rice by mixing in a little coconut milk.
2. Combine rice flour, flour, yeast, palm sugar, salt and vanilla in a bowl.
3. Stir well while pouring in the coconut milk little by little.
4. Mix the smooth rice into the flour mixture until smooth, then let sit for 60 minutes.
5. Stir briefly, transfer to a greased mold, then steam for 15 minutes. Serve cold.

FAQ for Making Apem

1. Why is leftover rice often considered undesirable to reprocess?

Usually because the rice is too dry or starts to emit an unpleasant aroma. However, by mixing it into the flour mixture and steaming it again into apem, the hard texture of the rice will change to soft and chewy again.

2. What’s the secret so that rice apem doesn’t smell rancid?

Make sure the leftover rice you use is not stale or slimy. Apart from that, using active yeast and adding natural aromas such as pandan leaves or vanilla will cover the aroma of the leftover rice.

3. How long can this leftover apem rice last?

Because of its moist texture, apem nasi should be consumed within 24 hours at room temperature. If you want it to last longer, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator and steam it again briefly before eating so that the texture remains soft.

4. Does the rice have to be blended until very smooth?

It is highly recommended to blend the rice with a little liquid (such as coconut milk or water) until it is really smooth. This aims to ensure that the texture of the apem is smooth and there are no grains of rice that interfere with chewing.

5. Can I replace instant yeast with other leavening agents?

To get the typical traditional apem texture with beautiful air pores, instant yeast is the best choice. Using baking powder alone may improve the cake, but the typical fermented aroma of apem will be lost.

(brl/tin)