10-minute Muah Chee

[Edit] Please take note of the following:

Note 1: Cooking times may differ according to amount of muah chee you’re making. If you’re making less than the recipe calls for, please reduce cooking time. Similarly, if you’re making double the recipe, cooking time will also increase.

Note 2: This recipe is based on a 1000W microwave oven. Cooking time will may differ according to the wattage of your microwave oven. For a 1000W microwave oven, microwaving for a total of 4 minutes gave me a consistency that is similar to what you get when you buy outside. You can microwave for 3 minutes and 30 seconds if you prefer a softer texture (I personally prefer softer muah chee). If your microwave oven is less than 1000W, you may or may not have to reduce cooking time. If your microwave oven is more than 1000W, you can microwave your muah chee for a total of 3 minutes first and check its consistency. If needed, you can microwave for another 30 seconds again.

Note 3: Do not leave cooked muah chee exposed to air for too long before coating in peanut powder, otherwise it will become dry.

Note 4: If you prefer not to use the microwave, you can add the batter to a frypan and fry for 3-4 minutes until it is cooked through.

Muah Chee is a popular Singapore snack made of glutinous rice balls covered in sugared peanut powder. It is commonly found at pasar malams (night markets) and is usually sold for around $2.50 per box. Muah chee used to be an occasional treat for me as I only got them at pasar malams, until I realised how simple it was to make. The best part about making your own muah chee is that you can adjust the softness or chewiness according to your own liking. I personally like my muah chee slightly softer, so I use a 1:1.35 glutinous rice flour to water ratio. If you prefer a harder and chewier texture, you can reduce the amount of water to perhaps a 1:1.2 ratio. Otherwise, experiment for yourself and adjust the ratio according to your own preference!

In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the glutinous rice flour and water into a smooth batter.

Add oil and mix well. You can skip the oil if you prefer, but the oil makes the muah chee slightly smoother. Some also use shallot oil for added fragrance.

Place bowl into the microwave oven and cook for 2 minutes.

After 2 minutes, remove the bowl and mix the dough well. At this point, the dough should be half-cooked. Return the bowl to the microwave oven and cook for another 2 minutes.

Note 1: Cooking times may differ according to amount of muah chee you’re making. If you’re making less than the recipe calls for, please reduce cooking time. Similarly, if you’re making double the recipe, cooking time will also increase.

Note 2: This recipe is based on a 1000W microwave oven. Cooking time will may differ according to the wattage of your microwave oven. For a 1000W microwave oven, microwaving for a total of 4 minutes gave me a consistency that is similar to what you get when you buy outside. You can microwave for 3 minutes and 30 seconds if you prefer a softer texture (I personally prefer softer muah chee). If your microwave oven is less than 1000W, you may or may not have to reduce cooking time. If your microwave oven is more than 1000W, you can microwave your muah chee for a total of 3 minutes first and check its consistency. If needed, you can microwave for another 30 seconds again.

Note 3: If you prefer not to use the microwave, you can add the batter to a frypan and fry for 3-4 minutes until it is cooked through.

Knead the dough for another 1-2 minutes after removing from the microwave oven so that it will be chewier.

Add sugared peanut powder into a bowl. I used a store-bought peanut powder that was already mixed with sugar. If the peanut powder you have doesn’t have sugar in it, simply add sugar to your desired sweetness.

Add muah chee to the bowl in small batches. Coat the muah chee with peanut powder, then cut it into smaller pieces. Coating the muah chee with peanut powder will help it stick less to the scissors as well as to each other.

Note: Do not leave cooked muah chee exposed to air for too long before coating in peanut powder, otherwise it will become dry.

Coat the small pieces of muah chee in peanut powder and it’s done!

Soft, chewy balls of muah chee ready for your enjoyment. And it only took a maximum of 10 minutes! Now you no longer have to go to pasar malams to indulge in this delicious snack; making it yourself is so easy and fuss-free!

DIY: ~$0.364 per serving

Dine Out: ~$2.50 per box