Ketupat

Rice packed into a pouch of woven palm leaves and boiled until it presses into a firm cake, eaten in Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and Singapore.

Ketupat: Diamond-shaped ketupat rice cakes in woven palm leaf pouches, one cut open showing compressed white rice
  • Cakes, cookies, pastries and baked goods
  • Malaysia

Also called: kupat

Young coconut leaves are woven into a small diamond-shaped pouch and filled about halfway with uncooked rice. The pouches are boiled for several hours, and the rice swells to fill the case, pressing into a compact cake. Once cool, the ketupat is cut open and sliced.

Ketupat is a savory staple, served with satay, curries and peanut sauce, and is closely linked to the Eid celebrations at the end of Ramadan. A sweet version made with glutinous rice and coconut milk exists in some regions. This entry is included as a traditional rice cake.

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Sources

Written by VanillaGoods in our own words from these sources. Last reviewed October 15, 2026.

  1. Weaving Ketupat, Roots.gov.sg (National Heritage Board, Singapore)