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Bubur Sum sum / Indonesian Sweet Coconut Rice Porridge

written by Marvellina Updated: March 28, 2019
12.3K
PIN RECIPE COMMENTS VIEW RECIPE
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Bubur sum sum is an Indonesian dessert made by cooking rice flour in coconut milk and served with palm sugar syrup. There is also a variety served with sweet potato dumplings (biji salak).

Bubur Sum sum / Indonesian Sweet Coconut Rice Porridge

Bubur sumsum or some called it bubur som som, is Indonesian traditional sweet dessert. The dessert is mainly made of coconut milk and rice flour that are being cooked until thickened and then chilled. The bubur itself is a little bit salty, complement by the sweetness from Gula Jawa. Salty and sweet dessert? that’s my kind of dessert.

Bubur Sum sum / Indonesian Sweet Coconut Rice Porridge

This was my childhood favorite dessert. We were always excited when we heard The lady who sold this bubur sumsum door-to-door calling out “Bubur sumsum…Bubur sumsum”. We both would look at our grandma (with our innocent looks trying to convince her to let us have some) and of course, she could not resist her cute granddaughters lol! This dessert is sooooooooo good and so easy to make. It always reminds me of my grandma. I miss her so much.

Bubur Sum sum / Indonesian Sweet Coconut Rice Porridge

Bubur Sum sum / Indonesian Sweet Coconut Rice Porridge

Bubur Sum sum / Indonesian Sweet Coconut Rice Porridge

Bubur Sum sum / Indonesian Sweet Coconut Rice Porridge

Bubur Sum sum / Indonesian Sweet Coconut Rice Porridge

Bubur Sum sum / Indonesian Sweet Coconut Rice Porridge

Servings 4 servings
5 from 7 reviews
REVIEW & RATE PRINT

Ingredients

  • 2 ½ cups coconut milk
  • ½ cup rice flour
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 3 pandan leaves knotted
  • About 15-20 biji salak see notes

Palm sugar syrup:

  • ½ cup gula jawa/palm sugar
  • ¼ cup water

Instructions
 

  • In a mixing bowl, combine coconut milk, rice flour, and salt. Stir to mix all ingredient well and make sure there is no lump in the mixture. Pour this into a small or medium size sauce pan, add in the pandan leaves and cook on low heat. Constantly stirring until it started to boil and thickened. This may take about 15-20 minutes. Turn off the heat and pour this into a bowl
  • Melt the gula jawa with water in a small saucepan and cook on low heat until slightly thickened. Strain and then set aside
  • Scoop the bubur into a serving bowl by using a spoon and pour the Gula Jawa syrup generously on top of it and forget about all the unhappy things and start counting your blessing 🙂 Best when you serve it warm

If you are adding biji salak to the bubur sum sum:

  • Once the bubur sum sum is cooked you can add the biji salak in just before serving

Marv's Recipe Notes

The sweet potato dumplings (biji salak) can be made ahead of time. They can be refrigerated for up to 3 days. They are hard when cold. Once you reheat it by steaming or microawave it briefly, it will go back to its soft chewy texture
Did you make this recipe?Let me know how you like this recipe and consider rating it! Tag me @whattocooktoday I'd love to see your photos/videos on Instagram

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3 comments

Dedy@Dentist Chef December 3, 2013 - 1:28 pm

The food gawker in palembang used to infused some pandan leaves extract within the bubur too……
this one of all time fave sweet bites for me!
making it from scratch is never cross my mind before, tempting to try!

Reply
Ariani December 11, 2012 - 7:23 pm

Thank you so much for putting the measurements in cups, coz i’ve been looking for bubur sumsum recipes online, but they’re all in liters cup, and i don’t have those liter measuring cups. it turned out great, i ran out of coconut milk and instead only use 11/2 cup and 1 cup water and turned out delish 🙂

Reply
What To Cook Today December 11, 2012 - 9:26 pm

Hi Ariani,

You are so welcome. Honestly, I’m used to using standard measurement cups and non-metric measurements (but I know it’s confusing for some people who are not used to that). I’m glad it turned out great for you 🙂 I love bubur sum sum 🙂

Reply
5 from 7 votes (7 ratings without comment)

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