Winter cake (vapa pitha). People of Bangladesh are the most popular and favorite cakes "Vapa".

Bangladesh is different seasonal country. We enjoy more in winter seasons and 'Vapa' is winter's cake.

There are not many Bengalis you’ll find who can refrain from the attraction of pithas. Depending on the region, celebration, and mood there are hundreds of kinds of pitha. Pitha can be steamed, deep-fried, pan fried, or roasted as you have sampled some such as dudh puli, shirgoja and moog pakan previously.

Vapa pitha is considered to be a classic pitha regardless of the region in Bangladesh. These are steamed rice cakes made out of freshly ground rice flour. Depending on the region, they are either served with beef, fish or vegetable curry. Adding a filling of date coconut and date molasses makes the pithas divine. If date molasses is not available in your pantry, substitute brown sugar.

In my never-ending quest of simplifying recipes, I use store-bought rice flour. Omitting the process of soaking and grinding the rice to make the flour at home saves substantial time and labor. The taste, just like home, just as my mom or my grand mother used to make.

Experience, experiment and relish!