Recipes · Bangladeshi · Desserts
Bhapa Pitha (Bangladeshi Steamed Rice Cake)
One serving has 274 kcal and 3 g protein, and at least a fifth of a woman's daily need of manganese (44%). Ready in 45 minutes.

- Preparation: 30 min
- Cooking: 15 min
- Makes: 1 serving (95.5 g)
- Difficulty: Medium
- Diets: Vegan, Gluten-free, Dairy-free
Ingredients
- 40 g Rice flour
- 20 g Water
- 20 g Coconut, fresh
- 15 g Sugar, brown
- 0.5 g Salt
Method
- Makes 1 pitha; multiply for more.
- Rub the water into the rice flour a little at a time until it forms a light, crumbly, slightly damp texture, then pass it through a sieve.
- Mix the grated coconut with the brown sugar and salt for the filling.
- Fill a small perforated bowl or bamboo mould half full with the rice flour, add a spoonful of the coconut filling in the center, then cover with more rice flour and level the top.
- Set the mould over a pot of vigorously boiling water and steam, covered, for 8-10 minutes until the cake is firm and holds its shape.
- Turn out onto a plate and serve warm.
Nutrition per serving
| Nutrient | Per serving | Share of a day's need |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | 274 kcal | 13% |
| Carbohydrates | 49.8 g | |
| Water | 34.3 mL | |
| Fiber | 2.8 g | 9% |
| Protein | 3.1 g | 6% |
| Tryptophan | 0.04 g | |
| Threonine | 0.11 g | |
| Isoleucine | 0.12 g | |
| Leucine | 0.24 g | |
| Lysine | 0.11 g | |
| Methionine | 0.07 g | |
| Cystine | 0.06 g | |
| Phenylalanine | 0.16 g | |
| Tyrosine | 0.15 g | |
| Valine | 0.18 g | |
| Histidine | 0.08 g | |
| Fat | 7.3 g | |
| Monounsaturated | 0.46 g | |
| Polyunsaturated | 0.22 g | |
| Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) | 0 g | |
| Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) | 0 g | |
| Omega-6 | 0.2 g | |
| Saturated | 6.1 g | |
| Trans-Fats | 0 g | |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | |
| Calcium | 20 mg | 2% |
| Copper | 0.15 mg | 17% |
| Iron | 0.73 mg | 4% |
| Magnesium | 22 mg | 7% |
| Manganese | 0.79 mg | 44% |
| Phosphorus | 62.4 mg | 9% |
| Potassium | 122 mg | 3% |
| Selenium | 8.2 µg | 15% |
| Sodium | 203 mg | |
| Zinc | 0.55 mg | 7% |
| Thiamin (vitamin B1) | 0.07 mg | 6% |
| Riboflavin (vitamin B2) | 0.01 mg | 1% |
| Niacin (vitamin B3) | 1.2 mg | 8% |
| Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) | 0.41 mg | 8% |
| Pyridoxine (vitamin B6) | 0.19 mg | 15% |
| Folate (vitamin B9) | 7 µg | 2% |
| Cobalamin (vitamin B12) | 0 µg | 0% |
| Choline | 5.1 mg | 1% |
| Vitamin A | 0 µg | 0% |
| Vitamin C | 0.66 mg | 1% |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0 IU | 0% |
| Vitamin E | 0.09 mg | 1% |
| Vitamin K | 0.04 µg | 0% |
Shares of a day's need are for a woman of 30, 165 cm, 60 kg, lightly active, by the US and Canadian Dietary Reference Intakes. SustainBite works out each person's own needs, by the standard where they live: the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations in Norway, the UK's, EFSA's in the EU.
Climate footprint
0.2 kg CO2e a serving: lower than most breakfasts, sides, desserts and drinks on SustainBite. Source: ADEME, Agribalyse 3.2.
Plan weeks of recipes like this on SustainBite: meals that meet each person's vitamin and mineral needs, for a family too, with one grocery list. Free.