When the monsoon season strikes, look for Kelantan delicacy 'putu halba' at KL's Pantai Dalam

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 14 — In Kelantan, when the monsoon season or what they call musim tengkujuh starts, it's time for putu halba.

Apparently stalls will pop up everywhere to offer this delicacy. It's a form of additional income for many — especially for those selling ubi kayu or cassava — as it's the main ingredient in putu halba.

The other popular dish using ubi kayu is ubi tonyoh or grated cassava mixed with grated fresh coconut.

Here in the Klang Valley, it's harder to come by stalls serving putu halba. So far, I've only come across one stall at Pantai Dalam that offers their putu halba once a week.

This is in conjunction with the Sunday morning market where traders peddle various ingredients and cook up food popular with those from Kelantan.

The 'kuih' is steamed wrapped in cloth hence its other name is 'kuih dalam kain' (left). This version is more pale yellow which is the natural hue of cassava (right).

'Putu halba' is prepared using grated cassava where the starch is wrung out using a muslin cloth.

Look for the stall right opposite D'Naim Nasi Kukus on the main thoroughfare of Pantai Dalam. There'll be a banner proclaiming they sell putu halba. It's sold in a set of five pieces at RM5.

Similar to putu piring, the kuih is wrapped in cloth and steamed. In Kelantan, traders would give it the nickname kuih dalam kain or kuih barang dalam kain too.

Instead of smooth rice flour which is usually used for putu piring, this kuih is made from grated cassava, where the starch is squeezed out of it and mixed with halba or fenugreek seeds. Thick gula Melaka is added to the middle of the kuih and wrapped in the cloth to be steamed.

As cassava is not smooth, putu halba has a slight chewy texture. It's best to eat it piping hot from the steamer with a generous amount of grated fresh coconut. When it cools down, it tends to harden a bit. If you're packing it to eat at home, reheat it in a microwave or steam it again before eating it.

This couple makes the 'putu halba' when it's the rainy season.

Find their stall on Sunday at Pantai Dalam, right opposite D'Naim Nasi Kukus.

This stall's version is a delicious, chewy one anchored by the fragrant gula Melaka filling and the fresh grated coconut.

At this stall, since they use only grated cassava, the colour is a pale yellow hue versus the brighter yellow ones you see on the Internet.

Since it's an annual delicacy, grab it before the monsoon season ends.

Putu Halba Stall, Opposite D'Naim Nasi Kukus, Jalan Pantai Dalam, Kampung Pantai Dalam, Kuala Lumpur. Open on Sunday from 7am to 12pm. Tel: +6011-17566898/+6011-23843049

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