Tasty Tuesday recipe-Torqued Pani Popo

Torqued Pani Popo

Pani Popo.  The name is cute, but what is it?  Pani Popo is a gooey, sticky roll that literally means bun coconut. These rolls are cooked in a sweet coconut milk until golden brown. In Bumpy Landings by Don Carey, Jordan seems to be blown about by every wind that passes by.  When he flies Kehau to another Hawaiian island (against his mother's wishes) he steps in and helps Kehau's family make a batch of pani popo (and boy are they impressed).  The sticky concoction is symbolic of the torque (moment of force) that propels Jordan toward the goals he wants for himself.  This is my second attempt at creating this new-to-me recipe.  The first batch turned out soggy--ick! I decided to try cooking the rolls in a bundt pan, simliar to the way I make monkey bread.  It turned out delicious, with a golden brown crust on top and a gooey coconut sauce on the bottom.  

24 count frozen dinner rolls or ½ batch of Magic Raised Rolls

6 Tablespoons coconut, divided

¼ cup sugar

1 Tablespoon cornstarch

1 10 oz can coconut milk

½ cup water

Prepare a bundt pan with cooking spray and sprinkle 2 Tablespoons of coconut along the bottom (this will be the top when inverted). Place 12 of the 2 inch balls of dough in the bundt pan.  Spray the dough with cooking spray and 2 Tablespoons of coconut.  Repeat with the last 12 balls, spraying and sprinkling with coconut one last time.  Follow the directions on the frozen rolls or if you use Magic Raised Rolls let the dough rise for 30 minutes. 

Combine the cornstarch and sugar and mix into the milk and water.  When the dough has doubled in size, pour the liquid mixture evenly over the roll dough.  Cook in a preheated 350’ oven for 30 minutes.  Allow pani popo to cool for ten minutes.  Place a serving dish over the pan and invert the rolls onto the plate.  Serves 24.