Maja Blanca

Maja Blanca always remind me of my childhood. When I was young my mother used to buy me a slice of maja blanca for my merienda. I can't forget Aling Meding's sari sari store where they sell different kinds of food from breaksfast, lunch and merienda.

This dessert is made of coconut milk, corn and cornstarch. I've put my own twist by adding sweetened jack fruit and coconut cream for richer maja blanca. There are other recipes around without the corn, some garnished with toasted coconut or peanuts instead of latik.

"Latik" is made from freshly squeezed coconut milk. (recipe below)

maja blanca
1/2 cup cornstarch
1 can of cream style corn
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups coconut milk
1/2 cup coconut cream
1/4 cup sweetened jack fruit, shredded (optional)
coconut oil from latik to grease serving dish

• In a medium casserole, add coconut milk and cornstarch, stir until cornstarch is completely dissolved.
• Add coconut cream, sugar and cream style corn. Cook over low heat until thickened, stirring constantly.
• Pour into greased serving dish and let cool completely. Refrigerate.
• Garnish with latik before serving.

latik / fried coconut milk solids
1 cup coconut milk
1 1/2 tbsp sugar

• Boil coconut milk, Stir constantly until oil comes out and coconut residue forms
• Pour off the excess oil, use this oil to grease the serving dish. Add sugar to latik and cook further until crisp.

Velvety smooth. The latik topping gives a crunchy texture and nutty sweet coconutty taste.