VIBIBI / Tanzanian Rice Balls

By Miriam (Tanzanian Recipe)

Vibibi is one of Tanzania favorite sweets during Ramathan. Even though I eat vibibi all year around, but most people prepare this during Ramathan. There is also another name used in Tanzania and that is Vipopoo, but this two recipes could be different, it depends which part of Tanzania you are coming from.

Please do not buy rice flour sold in grocery stores, or you will not get the same taste. Buy Jasmine scented basmati rice. Soak the rice for 3 hours, remove the water and grind the rice in blender or Coffee grinder.

 Vibibi / Rice balla

Ingredients
  • 1 cup rice flour
  • ¼ tsp Cardamon ground
  • 1 cup Coconut milk
  • ½ cup Sugar
  • 2 cup Water
  • Food color Optional
  1. Boil 1 cup water.
  2. Add rice flour; mix well with a wooden spoon until the mixture is hard.
  3. Divide into different parts depending on how many colors you are using.
  4. Add color in each and continue to mix until the color blend well.
  5. Make small balls of about ½ tea spoon full. set aside
  6. Coconut syrup
    • Mix sugar, 1 cup water, and coconut milk. Make sure the sugar is dissolved completely. Then boil the mixture.
    • Put a few rice balls in the boiling coconut milk for about 5 minutes or until soft. Remove from the pot and place into dessert bowl. Repeat until all rice balls are cooked.
    • When all balls are done. Increase the heat a little bit and let the coconut boil until it turns to light syrup. Remove from stove and let it cool.
  7. Pour the syrup to each bowl (of vibibi). You can cover the balls with syrup or just put half. This will be your choice.
  8. Karibu

Serve with:
•After dinner as a dessert with coffee, or during a meal.