Mont Lin Maya

Name: Mont Lin Maya
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Myanmar
Ingredients: Glutinous rice flour — 2 cups (280 g / 10 oz); Rice flour — 1/2 cup (60 g / 2 oz); Grated coconut — 1/2 cup (40 g / 1.5 oz); Sugar — 1/4 cup (50 g / 1.75 oz); Coconut milk, plus more as needed — 1 cup (240 ml / 8 fl oz); Of salt — pinch; Oil, for the pan

The Quirky Foodster Team

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ (0)

20 min

Prep

15 min

Cook

Servings

Ingredients

Glutinous rice flour — 2 cups (280 g / 10 oz)
Rice flour — 1/2 cup (60 g / 2 oz)
Grated coconut — 1/2 cup (40 g / 1.5 oz)
Sugar — 1/4 cup (50 g / 1.75 oz)
Coconut milk, plus more as needed — 1 cup (240 ml / 8 fl oz)
Of salt — pinch
Oil, for the pan

Method

Combine the glutinous rice flour, rice flour, grated coconut, sugar and salt in a bowl.
Gradually add coconut milk, mixing to form a thick, smooth batter.
Heat a dimpled pan over medium heat and lightly oil each indentation.
Pour a small amount of batter into each indentation, filling about two-thirds full.
Cook for 2–3 minutes until the bottoms are golden, then carefully flip each ball using a skewer or chopstick.
Continue cooking, turning as needed, for a further 3–4 minutes until fully cooked through and golden all over.
Serve warm.

Introduction: Small, fried rice cake balls made with a sticky rice and coconut batter, a beloved street snack sold hot from stalls across Myanmar.

Cultural Background: Mont lin maya, whose name playfully translates to something like ‘husband and wife cakes’, are cooked in special dimpled pans, giving each fried ball a distinctive round shape, and they remain one of the most recognisable Burmese street snacks.

Tips: A specialised dimpled pan is traditional, though a similar aebleskiver pan can be used as a substitute. Don’t overfill each indentation, as the batter will expand slightly while cooking.

Variations: Add a few sesame seeds to the batter for extra texture. Fill the centre with a small amount of sweetened coconut for a surprise filling.

Storage: Best eaten fresh and warm; leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for up to 1 day.

Reheating: Reheat briefly in an oven at 180°C (350°F) for 5 minutes.

Nutrition: Per serving (approx., 4 pieces): 260 kcal, 3 g protein, 8 g fat, 44 g carbohydrate.

FAQs:

Q: What does the name mont lin maya mean?

A: It roughly translates to ‘husband and wife cakes’,

Q: Can I use a regular frying pan instead?

A: A dimpled pan is needed for the characteristic round