The Martabak Manis or Terang Bulan or Sweet Martabak is a famous Indonesian snack.  It’s basically a rather large pancake filled with various fruits, cheeses, chocolate or sugar.

History
Martabak or Murtabak or Mutabbaq originated in Yemen in the hijaz region of Saudi Arabia.  The word Mutabbaq in Arabic means folded.  In Indonesia, these sweet, thick stuffed pancakes or pan-fried breads are known as Martabak Manis, Sweet Martabak, Terang Bulan or Kue Pinang Bangka. Malaysian’s call them Apam Balik.  Street vendors are usually cooking them up in the evening hours.  Martabak is pan-cooked, using a specially shaped pan.  The pan normally has a a diameter of about 25 cm and 3 cm thickness.

I know this isn’t exactly healthy, but it sure is good.  Sometimes you just have to reward yourself with something delicious.  To make it more healthy, fill it with seasonal fruit.

Gluten Free Options

You can substitute various Gluten Free flours including brown rice flour, white rice flour, sorghum flour, millet, and teff.   For non grain options you can use soybean, chick pea, almond, hazelnut, and peanut flours all of which are high protein.

Ingredients:

• 1 ¾ cup all purpose flour
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 1 ½ cup warm coconut milk (15 oz)
• 2 eggs
• ½ tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp instant yeast
• 1 tsp vanilla (optional)

Filling Options:

• Chopped nuts
• Sugar (brown, powdered, or granulated)
• Chocolate sprinkles
• Grated cheese
• Condensed Milk (sweetened)
• Fruit (strawberry / banana etc)

Baking Directions

1. Pour the instant yeast into the warm coconut milk and mix well, then set aside.
2. Mix flour, sugar, and baking soda. Then thoroughly mix in the coconut milk/yeast mixture.  Add eggs and mix well. Add vanilla if desired. Set entire mixture aside for 20 minutes at room temperature.
3. Melt and smear butter in nonstick pan on low heat. Pour approximately 1/2 of the mixture into large pan and cook covered on low-medium heat for about 10-15 minutes until the outer edge is brown and surface shows holes or is dry.
4. Carefully remove (shaking the pan works well to loosen the cake) onto a flat surface; cooked side down. Add filling on top surface.
5. Fold in half and cut into pieces. Yields about 10 servings total.

NOTE: Coconut milk thickens when colder than room temperature, so you may warm it in hot water or near a heat lamp, or over low heat in a saucepan. Martabak should be about 1” thick when folded.

If you like this Martabak Manis recipe, check out our Hungarian Hazelnut Cake recipe.  It’s Flourless and Gluten Free!

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