How to Cook the Best Suman Moron (Chocolate Moron)

The Philippines’ geographical location makes it a very diverse nation, not just in culture, tradition, and heritage: the nation is also diverse in terms of food and delicacies that the people enjoy. This ranges from the most exquisite, even up to the most absurd, and even borders the exotic.

There are also native delicacies that made their mark not only for the locals but also for people who taste these delicacies for the first time. And each province has the signature delicacy they are proud of, treats that represent the locals’ value and tradition. Every bite is as good as sharing the life of the people who made them. 

And for this article, we will be sharing with you a native delicacy that will not only whet your appetite but will also surely spark your culinary curiosity. You might even start wondering, who’s the genius who came up with this heavenly concoction. 

With all these things that we just said, we know that by now, we have tickled your curiosity enough: and we do not want to prolong that curiosity, wondering what this delicacy might be. So let’s go straight ahead and share with you the things you need to know for you to cook the Best Suman Moron in your very own kitchen. 

What is Suman Moron (Filipino rice cake desserts)

Suman is a general term to describe rice cakes. But the idea of cooking them is glutinous rice flour that is ground, mixed with coconut milk, which is then wrapped in banana leaves and steamed until they are cooked. But the term suman is just an umbrella term, meaning multiple delicacies will fall under the category suman. 

But this particular rice cake or suman that we will share with you is truly unique in its own right. Only an innovative cook would be able to think of this kind of rice cake: a rice cake intertwined with tablea, which gives the rather plain tasting rice cake a hint of chocolate. Pair it with a cup of freshly made hot cocoa drink, and it feels like you’re transported back to the province. 

This Willy Wonka-like goodness of a rice cake is famous in the province of Samar and Leyte, regions located east of the Philippines. These regions are naturally dotted with coconut trees, that is why most of the native dishes and delicacies have coconut milk and other coconut by-products in them.

The suman moron structure is also a sight to behold: the glutinous rice flour mixture is gyrated or braided into a mix of the chocolate mixture after they are cooked separately. After “braiding” them together, they are wrapped in banana leaves and steamed until they are thoroughly cooked and form a single rice cake. 

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Ways to Cook Rice Cakes Recipes

For many, native delicacies are supposed to be cooked the traditional way for you to maintain their taste. That may be true at some point, however with the dawn of new kitchen equipment and the innovation of cooking techniques, the only way for these traditional delicacies to thrive is to adapt. 

And for a good home cook, there is nothing wrong with innovation; it actually makes their jobs easier. In this article, we included a few other ways that you can cook Suman Moron other than the traditional. 

Instant pot

The instant pot is probably one of the most functional cookware ever invented: its ability to do other cookware functions is genuinely a big help for any cook. With just a click of a button, you can choose which procedure is needed for whatever it is that you’re cooking. 

There are settings in the instant pot intended for different types of cooking needs. You can use it to saute ingredients, slow cook foods, and even steam rice. For that reason, we can use the instant pot for cooking Suman Moron as well. 

The process of cooking Suman Moron using this cookware doesn’t differ much from the traditional way. An instant pot has a steamer basket attachment, which you can use to steam foods: and you can use that attachment to cook our native delicacy. 

Simply follow the steps for cooking and assembling the Suman Moron; they may be a bit complicated a bit, the first time you do it: you’ll get the hang of it soon enough, so don’t worry too much. After wrapping the cooked mixture in banana leaves, put them in the instant pot’s basket attachment, and set the cooker to steam function.

Then let the instant pot do its job, and you can do other things while waiting for it to cook.

Stovetop

A stovetop cooker is an essential cookware that most Filipino households have. Others have the electric type, which is the more modern version, while others still use the LPG-fueled, which is cheaper than its more modern cousin. 

Either way, you can use them for cooking Suman Moron at home. The additional equipment you need to use is the stovetop steamer, and you’re good to go. You can use the aluminum type, which is easier to find, or the more rustic one, which is made from bamboo for that traditional appeal. 

Follow the steps as it is given in the recipe. After mixing them or braiding them together, put the prepared suman in the steamer and steam the rice cake for about 15 minutes or until they are cooked. 

Pressure Cooker

Who says that a pressure cooker is only for tenderizing tough cuts of meat. You just have to be a bit more creative so that you can use whatever cookware you have for your cooking needs.

The pressure and the steam buildup causes food to cook much faster; that is why this cookware is something that every cook must-have. You can achieve cooking suman using a pressure cooker by putting the wrapped rice cake in a pot and then putting them inside the cooker for about an hour.

For safety reasons, be sure to check the pressure cooker’s manual and follow the steps religiously to avoid any untoward incidents.  

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Other Delicious Variants and Rice Cake Desserts Recipes

One thing we really like about native delicacies is that we can put our twist on them. We can be as creative as we can to make them fit to our liking. There are practically no rules as to the extent of variations we can do with them.

And for that, we have a list here of these Suman Variations that you can try cooking, so it can help widen your culinary horizon. 

Suman Moron with Coconut Curd

Just the thought of having a creamy spread put on top of a freshly cooked, hot off the steamer rice cake is enough to make your mouths water in excitement: so why not make something that is truly unique. 

Coconut curd is like custard spread, so in that sense, you already know how this will taste like. Creamy with the right amount of sweetness and spread on top of a chocolatey rice cake, what more can you ask for, right?.

To do this, you simply have to follow the recipe for the Suman Moron. Once you’re done with it, you can go ahead and make the coconut curd. Whisk together the sugar, eggs, and coconut milk, and slowly stir them in a heatproof bowl on top of a pot of boiling water. Do not use direct heat as it will cause the milk to curdle. 

Do this for about 40 minutes or until you reach your desired consistency. Once you are satisfied with the consistency, you can cool it down and use the curd as a spread.

Chocolate Moron With Nuts 

Adding nuts to any delicacies gives that dish a bit more body. The additional texture of crunch and that nutty flavor makes you want more of whatever that delicacy might be. 

There are a variety of nuts that you can choose from: you can use cashew nuts, pili nuts, or whatever you have available. You can even use almonds or walnuts if you’re feeling a bit generous. 

For a fuller taste of the nuts, chop the nuts finely and include them in the chocolate mixture. This ensures that the peanuts’ oils will incorporate well with the Suman Moron for you to have that nutty layer of flavor. 

Chocolate Moron With Latik

Latik is the residue of boiling coconut milk until all the milk turns into oil. The resulting residue is called latik, and you can mix this with sugar to sweeten it a bit. This sweet treat is often added to plain tasting rice cake to heighten its taste. 

The procedure is the same as cooking the Suman Moron as instructed by the recipe. So proceed with the steps indicated and steam the mixture after wrapping them in banana leaves. You can also lightly burn the leaves in the fire to give it a smoky overtone. 

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Trivia about Chocolate Moron Desserts

The tablea that is usually included in the Suman Moron is a pure chocolate powder that is pressed and made into pucks. Contrary to popular belief, pure chocolate is not sweet. As a matter of fact, it is bitter. 

The history of suman, and generally rice cakes, predates colonial times. Our ancestors have been making rice cakes since time immemorial and make them as an offering to nature spirits, gods, and goddesses. 

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Tips

Traditional delicacies can sometimes be challenging to make, but no worries because we got you covered. We made a list of tips that you can try to make your Suman Moron taste even better. 

• Use young banana leaves for wrapping. They are more durable and more heat resistant. 
• Use tablea if possible; they are tastier and richer in taste. 

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Troubleshooting

Rice cakes may be challenging to master at first, and mishaps may occur along the way. But don’t worry because we have time-tested troubleshooting steps that can help you. 

• If the texture or consistency is not that firm, steam the Suman Moron for five more minutes to let the excess moisture evaporate. 
• If the rice cakes are sticking to the banana leaves, dab them with coconut oil. 

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Best Serve With

Traditional dishes and delicacies are best eaten with other dishes that will heighten the dining experience. So we have a list of foods that may work well with our Suman Moron.

• Suam na Mais

Nothing spells comfort more than a warm bowl of chowder on a lazy afternoon. And partner this mildly salty and flavorful soup with our rice cake, and indeed this will be a trip down memory lane. 

• Tortang Alamang

The contrasting textures and flavors are sure to win the favor of your palate. And the rustic appeal of these dishes will take you to the countryside. 

• Minatamis na Saging

These are childhood merienda snacks that most of us grew up eating. Simple, filling, yet very heartwarming. These kinds of snack pairing make us want to relive our childhood days. 

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Conclusion

The beauty of an archipelago is the diversity of many facets of people’s lives. Culture, tradition, the way of living, and the food that the people enjoy are really different. And that leaves us with a wide variety of delicacies that we can learn to cook and enjoy. 

And with that principle in mind, we know that you have been well equipped with the things that you need to know to cook the Best Suman Moron that your family will surely fall in love with. 

For more delicious recipe, visit Eat like Pinoy!

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