DIVERSITY

What best characterises the flavour in Indonesian cuisine? The answer is none! or to be precise: indescribable. Well, consists of more than 17'000 islands and more than 300 ethnic groups, Indonesia is one country with the most diversity in the world, and its diversity is reflected in its food. Different ingredients, different spices and herbs combinations, different cooking methods, different cultures, traditions and habits... the result? yes, each ethnic group has its own unique dishes, which can have a totally different taste with what the other ethnic has. Tasting all the Indonesian food can be a long adventurous surprisingly good journey. Some ethnics have specific flavour in their dish, using some "basic" spices and herbs combination. In Java, a pinch of sugar is a must, while in North and South Sulawesi nobody cook food with sugar except for desserts. There are a lot of dishes using coconut milk as one of its ingredient in Sumatera, while no coconut milk is used in traditional foods from Papua and very seldom used in Maluku. Padang's foods, influenced by the Indian cooking many centuries ago, are specific for using a lot of spices and herbs... a much lighter version of Indian cooking without scarifying its richness in flavour and yet becomes easier to enjoy and be addicted into. The people in eastern part of Indonesia grill seafood with only salt and lime, to better enjoy the fresh flavour of the seafood, while the people in western part often cook their food slowly for hours... Well, those are just small examples…

Monday 29 December 2008

Mom recipe's cookbook

Got back Mom recipe book from Sister D. three days ago (she borrowed it last year). Mom gave this precious book with her handwritting to me about two years ago. She had this book since her twenties and wrote down her favourite recipes on it. Many are still our favourite dish. She doesn't cook anymore since she has problems with her health. In that book: Rengil, Mung-bean Soup (Sup Kacang Hijau), Croquete, Chicken Rica-rica, Hula-hula Pudding, etc.
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