Kueh Salat (Kuih Seri Muka) Recipe – Pandan Custard with Blue Pea Flower Glutinous Rice

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Kueh Salat, also known as Kuih Seri Muka (“beautiful face” in Malay), is a classic two-layer Nyonya kueh. It features a fragrant glutinous rice base tinted naturally with blue pea flowers and a smooth, aromatic pandan coconut custard on top.

No artificial colouring — just pure pandan and bunga telang for that vibrant green and blue! Perfect for festive occasions or tea time.

Watch my step-by-step video tutorial below. I will show you how to obtain a smooth top layer for this kueh and how to cut it neatly.

To make this very popular kueh, click on the video tutorial and print out the recipe below.

Thank you

YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/PCCf39cF7uE

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Kueh Salat (Kuih Seri Muka)
Prep Time
45 mins
Cook Time
1 hr 15 mins
Cooling Time
4 hrs
Total Time
5 hrs 15 mins
 
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: Peranakan
Servings: 1 24 cm round kueh (about 16–20 pieces)
Author: Shiokman Eddie
Ingredients
Bottom Layer (Glutinous Rice)
  • 400 g glutinous rice
  • 40-50 blue pea flowers bunga telang (soak in 100 ml water)
  • 250 ml santan (150 ml thick coconut milk with 100 ml water)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • Pandan leaves optional
Top Layer (Pandan Custard)
  • 3 large eggs 70 g
  • 150 g sugar
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 400 ml thin santan (200 ml thick coconut milk with 200 ml water)
  • 100 ml pandan water (from 30 pandan leaves with 100 ml water)
  • 90 g plain flour
  • 45 g tapioca flour
Instructions
Prepare the Bottom Layer
  1. Wash glutinous rice to remove excess starch and soak for at least 2 hrs
  2. Wash about 40-50 dried flowers and boil in 100 ml of water
  3. After water has turned dark blue, let it stand for an hour before squeezing out 100 ml dark blue water
  4. Add 100 ml water to 150 ml thick coconut milk to make 250 ml thin santan
  5. Add 1 tsp salt to thin santan and mix well
  6. Drain out the water from the soaked glutinous rice
  7. Lightly spray a 24 cm round pan with oil
  8. Transfer drained glutinous rice into pan
  9. Arrange some pandan leaves (optional)
  10. Pour the thin santan (coconut milk) all over
  11. Ensure the rice is thoroughly covered by the thin santan
  12. Place pan of rice in a steamer and steam for 20 mins.
  13. Thereafter, remove pandan leaves
  14. Fluff up the rice; and pour blue pea flower water (in patches) over it
  15. Fluff up the rice again and steam for another 10 mins
  16. Remove pan from steamer and press the rice flat until it is well compressed.
  17. Set it aside
Prepare the Top Layer
  1. Cut 30 pandan leaves into small pieces and blend in water.
  2. Sieve out pandan juice and set it aside.
  3. When measuring 100 ml of pandan juice, pour off diluted layer and use the thicker pandan paste/juice to obtain darker green colour for the kueh.
  4. If possible, this step should be done 1 or 2 days earlier.
  5. Add 1/4 tsp salt to 400 ml thin santan (i.e. 200 ml thick coconut milk with 200 ml water)
  6. Add 150 g sugar to 3 Large eggs and mix well
  7. Add 400 ml thin santan and mix well
  8. Add 100 ml pandan juice a little at a time (checking colour) and mix well
  9. Sieve 90 g plain flour and 45 g tapioca flour into pandan mixture and mix well
  10. Sieve out the mixture to ensure smooth consistency
  11. Stir sieved mixture over low heat until it thickens slightly
  12. Once mixture sticks to back of spoon, it’s ready
Assemble & Steam

  1. Reheat the pressed glutinous rice in the steamer.

  2. Slowly pour the pandan mixture over it
  3. Wrap steamer lid with cloth and leave the lid slightly ajar by placing a chopstick in between lid and steamer (to achieve a smooth surface for the kueh)
  4. Steam over medium heat for 30 to 45 mins
  5. The kueh is ready once top layer firms up; and skewer inserted into centre of top layer comes out clean
  6. Remove pan from steamer and let it cool for at least 4 hrs before cutting
  7. Use a plastic scraper or plastic knife to get a smooth cut
Recipe Notes

Pro Tips & Notes

  • Prepare pandan juice 1–2 days in advance for stronger colour and flavour.
  • Press the rice layer very firmly for clean layers.
  • The cloth-wrapped lid trick is key for a smooth, crack-free custard surface.
  • Cool fully before cutting — it sets better and slices neatly.
  • Kueh Salat is best eaten within 1 or 2 days.
  • Store in the fridge for up to 3–4 days. Bring to room temperature or re-steam lightly before serving.
  • For a more vibrant blue bottom, use more blue pea flowers or concentrated extract.

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