How Do I Weave a Ketupat?

Ketupat is traditionally served with sayur lodeh, serunding, sambal tumis, soto or satay.

Ketupat is a type of rice cake from the Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. It is often served as part of traditional, festive dishes and during celebrations. It is made by cooking rice inside woven coconut leaf pouches. The two most common varieties of ketupat are ketupat nasi - which is wrapped in a square pouch - and ketupat pulut - which is wrapped in a triangular shaped pouch. Ketupat is frequently served by street vendors.

Things You'll Need

• 2 long, wide coconut leaves
• Coconut leaf stick

Instructions

1. Hold the two coconut leaves so that they overlap, forming an "X." For these instructions, the top leaf will be labeled Leaf A and the bottom leaf will be labeled Leaf B.

2. Loop Leaf A to the right, around and under Leaf B. Make a second loop. Make a third loop with Leaf A going under Leaf B.

3. Loop Leaf B horizontally around Leaf A, weaving in and out through the three vertical A Leaf Loops you made in Step 2. Make a second horizonal loop with Leaf B weaving back through the three vertical loops again. Make a third horizonal loop with Leaf B weaving through the three vertical A Leaf loops.

4. Flip your entire weave over, making sure to hold onto all of the ends.

5. Pull all the ends tight, pulling the ketupat into shape. Insert the coconut leaf stick into the top of the weave.

References

• Kampung Crafts: Ketupat Weaving