Getuk ubi / tapioca slice is one of the easiest tasty Malay kuih (dessert).



   

What is Getuk Ubi?

Getuk ubi is made of soft boiled tapioca, mashed with sugar added.
The mashed tapioca then compacted into a tray or baking pan.
Sweet coconut made with either palm sugar or dark brown sugar is used as topping for getuk ubi.

In Indonesia, this getuk ubi is known as getuk singkong gula merah.
Perhaps tapioca slice would best describe this getuk ubi to my english readers.

How to make Getuk Ubi?

Getuk ubi is very easy to do with ingredients easily available either in fresh market for fresh tapioca or in the freezer section of an Asian grocer.

Full recipe and method is readily available at the bottom of this post.

Step 1 : Tapioca.

You can either use fresh or frozen.

If you are using fresh tapioca, remove the 'skin', wash and cut into chunks.
Frozen tapioca is much easier to use, just give a quick wash and cut into chunks.

Step 2: Boil tapioca in enough water to just cover the cut tapioca chunks.

Boil until tapioca is soft and tender.

Step 3: Mash and compact tapioca

Drain off the liquid and mash tapioca.


Add sugar to the mashed tapioca.


Add a pinch of salt (optional)


Mix thoroughly.

Transfer mashed tapioca to an 8 inch by 8 inch baking pan lined with greaseproof paper or banana leave.

Compact mashed tapioca.

How to make the sweet coconut for getuk ubi topping

Cut palm sugar into chunks.

Note: I prefer to use dark brown sugar.

It gives more colour than palm sugar.


Add water to the sugar to make syrup.


Add knotted pandan leaves. 
Pandan leaves impart a sweet aroma to the coconut.

Pandan leaves are widely used in making South-east Asian dessert.


Add coconut milk to the syrup.

I added cornflour to make this sweet coconut topping thicker, glisten and to bind the mixture.

Note : If you are adding freshly grated coconut, omit this step.


Add desiccated coconut.

See note above if you are using freshly grated coconut.


Add and level the sweet coconut topping onto the compacted mashed tapioca. 



Enjoy getuk ubi as afternoon snack as serve as dessert at dinner.

How to slice getuk ubi?

You can slice getuk in any size you wish, big or small slices.
I use metal bread scraper, as I find it easier to cut using bread scraper.

I cut into 16 pieces.

How best to keep getuk ubi?

Getuk ubi s best kept in an air tight container.

How long can I keep getuk ubi for?

Getuk ubi has some coconut milk in the topping, so best keep getuk ubi in the refrigerator.

It can last a day in the room temperature but not during summer, but best keep them in the refrigerator.

Take getuk ubi out of refrigereator to let it be at room temperature, before consuming.

Other Malaysian kuih that you may wish to try

Tapioca cake
Kuih cucur badak / Deep fried sweet potato dumpling with spicy coconut filling
Kuih Keria / Sweet potato donuts

Video on How to make getuk ubi / tapioca slice