Balisungsung (White Rice Wrapped in Banana Leaves) By Andy

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Balisungsung (White Rice Wrapped in Banana Leaves) By Andy Avendano

Balisungsung is a specialty of the City of Malolos in the province of Bulacan, PHILIPPINES. In Bulacan, you will always see balisungsung served during fiestas, special ocassions, big parties and family gatherings. Each wrapped serving is equivalent to a scoop of rice (kinda like individual servings beautifully packaged). It is NOT a dessert, NOT a snack. It is intended to be eaten with your favorite food dish as a substitute for your normal everyday plain steaming white rice.

Ingredients: White Rice (main ingredient), Banana Leaves (to wrap rice prior to cooking), Water, Salt (to taste)

1) Wash uncooked rice and drain.
2) Make cone shaped container using pre-cut banana leaves
3) Put ¼ cup uncooked rice in each cone shaped container and set neatly stacked in a cooking pot
4) Fill cooking pot with water (add salt to taste) ensuring that each and every cone shaped container is underwater.
5) Cover and cook at high heat. (excess water will overflow when it reaches boiling point)
6) Reduce heat to medium when water remaining in pot is only about an inch deep.
7) Rice is done when water completely evaporates or dries.