East Africa · Breakfast
Poutou (Steamed Rice and Coconut Cakes)
Fragrant cylindrical steamed cakes of coarsely ground rice and spiced freshly grated coconut eaten warm for morning breakfast.
The story
Rooted in the traditions of the Tamil and Bhojpuri Indo-Mauritian diaspora, Poutou is an iconic heritage breakfast delicacy prepared for festive mornings and family gatherings across rural and coastal Mauritius. Eaten warm straight from the steam, it is traditionally accompanied by strong cardamom milk tea or a drizzle of cane sugar syrup. The technical mastery lies in hydrating the freshly ground rice flour to a moist sand consistency without letting it form a paste, allowing steam to permeate freely through the cylindrical moulds.
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