Hot, Sweet, and Steamed in Bamboo: A Love Letter to Kue Putu

Indonesia has a lot of traditional snacks—and by a lot, I mean a lot. I don’t mean to play favorites, but one that has always stood out to me is kue putu bambu (or bamboo putu cake, if translated into English). Made from rice flour and filled with palm sugar, this traditional cake is steamed in a bamboo tube and served hot with grated coconut.

I’d say the description alone is enough to make anyone drool—that’s why I made a beeline for it last night on my way home from work.

Well, the purchase was actually a spur-of-the-moment decision. While walking back home, I heard the familiar flute-like sound of a street food cart nearby. I immediately turned my head, trying to verify the source. “A kue putu cart? For real?” I asked, half in disbelief.

It turned out to be very real. Since it had been a while since I’d stumbled upon a kue putu bambu cart, finding one last night felt like a dream come true. I quickly bought five pieces (IDR 2,000 each). The seller happily made them for me.

Look at that—the melting palm sugar is EVERYTHING!!!

In conclusion, I love kue putu bambu so much! If kue putu bambu were healthy to eat every day, I still wouldn’t choose it over rice—because nothing ever beats rice in my dictionary—but I’d happily eat it as often as my stomach allows. I’m not big on snacking, so I think that says a lot.

Ahhh, kue putu bambu. I hope you will be interested in trying it if you ever visit Indonesia. Just listen closely for the flute-like sound of a street food cart. It will likely lead you straight to this traditional gem.

If you like this post, you might also enjoy A Honey-Roasted Sweet Potato to the Rescue and Food So Good, You Have to Try It ASAP!.