Yo, foodie peeps! 🌟 This cool purple-colored and wood-texture fresh food recipe from Indonesia that I am about to share with you all not only tastes out of this world but it’s also a wow factor with its jaw-dropping color: Purple Sweet Potato Biji Salak. I came across this dish by first giving it a try and then I saw a post on X by @meecin_ that made me want to recreate it right away!💜🍠✨

One of the most common Indonesian Ramadan snacks is Biji Salak, the sweet potato form typically boiled or steamed in sugar syrup or served with coconut milk.

Today, I decided to give it a modern twist by making it of the purple sweet potato which kept the yummy flavor but added a new natural purple color to it.

The texture is a bit chewy, but the sweetness and the drizzle of a coconut milk sauce – these are the elements that make it heartwarming! So go get the shopping list and let’s start with it!

Purple Sweet Potato Biji Salak Recipe

Ingredients

For the Biji Salak (Sweet Potato Balls):

Purple sweet potato: 350 gr (steamed, mashed)
Tapioca flour: 90 gr
Granulated sugar: 2 tbsp
Salt: 1/2 tsp

For the Coconut Milk Sauce:

Instant coconut milk: 1 sachet (Kara 65 ml)
Water: 140 ml
Salt: 1/2 tsp
Pandan leaf: 1 leaf

For the Palm Sugar Syrup:

Granulated sugar: 150 gr (you can substitute with palm sugar for a more traditional taste)
Salt: 1/2 tsp
Water: 750 ml
Tapioca flour: 2 tbsp (dissolved in a little water)
Pandan leaf: 1 leaf

Instructions

Making the Biji Salak:

Prepare the Purple Sweet Potato: First, vice the purple sweet potatoes into a steamer. Once the sweet potatoes are cooked, transfer to a bowl and mash them while still warm. However, before shaping, make sure the texture is completely smooth for easier work.
Mix the Dough: In a bowl, add the mashed purple sweet potato, tapioca flour, granulated sugar, and salt. First of all, mix all the ingredients carefully and press them with a spatula to make them well incorporated. Once smooth and pliable, the dough is ready. If it’s too sticky, add a little more tapioca flour until it’s no longer sticky.
Shape the Balls: Get a small chunk from the dough and form a 1.5 cm diameter ball. Proceed in the same way with the rest of the dough. Protip: Use water to wet your hands and thus the dough won’t stick to your fingers.
Boil the Balls: At the outset, bring a pot of water to a boil and put in a pandan leaf for fragrance. After that, put the prepared purple potato balls in and let them sit for a few minutes before removing them when they float to the top of the water.

Making the Palm Sugar Syrup:

Cook the Syrup: In a pot, put in all the water, granulated sugar, salt, and a pandan leaf. Boil the mixture and cook it until the sugar is dissolved.
Thicken the Syrup: Add gradually the dissolved tapioca flour and keep stirring until the syrup reaches the desired density. Cook the syrup, set aside, and let it cool down before you use it later.

Making the Coconut Milk Sauce:

Mix the Ingredients: Place water and pandan leaf in a small pot together with the coconut milk.
Heat Gently: When it starts to reach a boil, reduce the heat and keep stirring continuously to prevent the coconut milk from clogging. When the mixture gets warm, not boisterous, turn off the heat slowly and discard the pandan leaf.

Serving:

Arrange the little purple sweet potato balls in a beautiful bowl.
Pour the coconut milk sauce over the purple sweet potato balls.
Drizzle with the warm palm sugar syrup based on your preference.
Your best bet is to have it warm. 🥥✨

Tips and Tricks

Prevent the Balls from Breaking: The balls have to be added to the water which is already boiling hard. Also, they have to be handled not too much while boiling to keep them in shape.
Brighter Color: If you are using fresh purple sweet potatoes you will accomplish the natural purple color. BUT, if the color comes out not deep enough, you can add a touch of food coloring (optional).
Smooth Coconut Milk Sauce: In order to prevent the formation of lumps when cooking the coconut milk, always choose to use low heat and stir constantly.

My Experience Making Purple Sweet Potato Biji Salak

So, guys, I found this recipe on @meecin_’s X post, and omg, the color!!! It immediately hooked me up. The process seemed easy to me, even though I’m a noob. My favorite moment was when the purple sweet potato balls started emerging and floating on the broth – it felt like a little magic! 🪄

The texture of the biji salak itself is something in-between soft, chewy, while the syrup brings its distinct sweet flavor and the savory coconut milk sticks are more comforting. I prepared it as an afternoon snack, but it also can be a nice finishing of a dinner too. You will have 4 servings after this recipe which is great to share with a family.

The Cultural Significance of Biji Salak

Biji Salak, to the best of my knowledge, is commonly consumed in Java during the fasting month of Ramadan to serve as a takjil, after which the fast is broken.

This sugary and full of vitamins, which are essential for restoring energy, is the most suitable finish after the fasting day. The idea of this dessert is that it gets its name “biji salak” from its form, which is identical to the salak fruit seeds (snake fruit) and primarily from sweet potatoes that the dessert is usually made.

For me, this purple sweet potato construction of it is, indeed, a new way of serving the tradition that makes it more modern, in my view.

Closing Thoughts

Purple Sweet Potato Biji Salak is a significantly versatile dish that combines traditional cooking with new ideas, showing the timelessness of these recipes.

The striking purple appearance, delightful flavor, and pleasant pandan smell make this dessert not only a joy to eat but also a visual delight. I dare you to make it at home!

If so, do not forget to type in the space below, the commentary or tag me to your picture. Wishing everyone a pleasant time while cooking! ◝(ᵔᗜᵔ)◜💜🍠🥥✨🍀

So, what do you think, friends? Are you excited to try this recipe too? Or do you have your own variation of Biji Salak that you make at home? I’d love to hear your stories! 😊

Purple Sweet Potato Biji Salak A Traditional Dessert