Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Ice Dawet Recipe is Indonesian Traditional Beverage

In Sunda, Indonesia, cendol is a dark green pulpy dish of rice (or sago) flour worms with coconut milk and syrup of areca sugar. It used to be served without ice. In the Javanese language, cendol refers to the green jelly-like part of the beverage, while the combination of cendol, palm sugar and coconut milk is called dawet. The most famous variant of Javanese es dawet is from Banjarnegara, Central Java. It was absolutely delicious, a mixture of coconut milk (santen), palm sugar syrup (gula jawa) and rice flour. Very easy to make but with those delicious Indonesian Traditional Beverage…yummy!Es Dawet Recipe is Indonesian Traditional Beverage


Dawet Ingredients:
  • 125 g sago palm flour
  • 25 gr rice flour
  • 400 grams water
  • Suji leaves 100 ml water (30 LBR suji leaf blender with 150 ml water, filtered)
  • 3 drops of green dye
Brown sugar sauce:
  • 250 gr brown sugar, sliced thin
  • 300 ml water
  • 1 sheet of pandan leaf
Coconut milk:
  • 750 ml coconut milk from 1 coconut
  • 1 / 2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 pieces of pandan leaf
Method:
  1. Mix well dawet materials, cook while stirring until bubbling.
  2. Lift, hot-hot, pour into molds cendol, press mold cendol.
  3. Absorb cendol out into a basin of cold water.
  4. Boil brown sugar sauce, stirring until boiling, strain, chill.
  5. Boil the coconut milk while stirring until boiling, let cool.
  6. Cendol Spoon into a glass.
  7. Add brown sugar and coconut milk sauce.
  8. Serve with ice cubes.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Soto Ayam Lamongan Recipe (Lamongan-Style Chicken Soup)

Lamongan Chicken Soup
Soto is one of Indonesian popular foods.  With many different regions and ethnicities, they do enrich the variety of soto itself in the country.  Soto is an Indonesian soup that can be made with or without coconut milk.  This time, I present Soto Ayam Lamongan.  As there are ample collection of soto in Indonesian culinary, you may see some of my soto posts.
In East Java itself where I was born and raised, I know many different soto ayam.  In Surabaya and its surrounding, SOTO AYAM LAMONGAN is one of them.   If you drive about 2 hours to the east toward Bali, there is a small town call Probolinggo, this town also has a different soto ayam.  What the difference between these two soto ayam is the koyah to sprinkle over the soto.  Soto Ayam Lamongan uses a mix of shrimp crackers and fried garlic that are ground. While the Soto in Probolinggo, the koyah is made from toasted grated coconut.
Did you remember about Indonesian yellow spice paste (bumbu dasar kuning) post?  This recipe can use that short cut.  However, my bumbu dasar kuning stock is done, so I have to make from scratch.
Soto Ayam Lamongan
Lamongan-Style Chicken Soup
modified from mbak Lia’s recipe
Ingredients:
1 whole free range chicken (about 1 kg, 2.2 lbs), quartered
2 liter water
3 teaspoon seasalt
2 teaspoon sugar
50 mililiter oil for stir frying
4 Chinese celery stalks, knotted
3 leeks, separate the white and green parts
Herbs:
6 kaffir lime leaves, torn
2 lemongrases, take the white part only and bruised
Spices
6 shallots (or 3 if you use the biggers size),halved
6 cloves garlic siung, bruised
4-centimeter long turmeric root
4-centimeter long ginger root
4-centimeter long galangal
1 1/4 teaspoon whitepeppercorn
6 candlenuts (kemiri, kukui nuts)
Complements
80 grams mungbean vermicelli
80 grams thinly sliced cabbage
4 boiled eggs, remove the shells
crispy potato chips
chopped Chinese celery
kecap manis
wedged key limes
candlenuts sambal
garlic koyah (koyah bawang putih)*
shrimp crackers
Methods:
FOR THE BROTH
Place ginger, turmeric, galangal, shallot, garlic and candlenuts in a baking pan. Char them to elevate the aroma about 10-15 minutes. Peel the skin of ginger root, galangal and turmeric roots. Combine with other charred ingerdients in a food processor. Process them until smooth. You can always use a mortar and pestle.
Roughly slice white part of leeks. Wash the green parts really well.
In a skillet, heat up the oil. Add ground spices and stir fry until fragrant. Add herb ingredients, keep stirring until darker. Remove from heat and set aside.
In a large pot, add water and bring to a boil. Place in chicken, boiled egg (I don’t eat boiled egg, so I don’t add this), Chinese celery stalks, green part of leeks, seasalt, sugar and stir-fried mixture. Reduce the heat and place the lid on, but let a bit room for air to release from the pot. Simmer until the chicken is cooked and tender.
Remove egg and chicken from the pot. Let them to cool down. Shred chicken and slice egg. Set aside. Put the chicken carcass back to the broth.
Discard green part of leeks. Toss in sliced white parts of leek into stock. Turn the heat to medium
Correct the flavour by tasting it first and if you need you can add seasalt and sugar. Bring to a boil until the leek cooked (you can add with hot water if you feel you need more stock). Remove from the heat.
FOR SERVING
To soften the vermicelli, pour boiling hot water until soft and drain.
As the East Java style, soto and rice will serve together in a bowl.
In a bowl, place cooked rice, vermicelli, sliced cabbage, shredded chicken and sliced egg. Laddle hot stock over. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon garlic koyah, crispy potato chips and sliced Chinese celery leaves.
Serve with candlenuts sambal, kecap manis, slices of key lime and shrimp crackers on the side.
* Garlic Koyah Koyah Bawang Putih
Ingredients:
10 cloves garlic, thinly sliced and fried jadikan bawang putih goreng
75 grams a good quality of shrimp crackers, follow the directions on your package of crackers to fry
Methods:
Pound and stir fried garlic and shrimp crackers until blended and smooth. Ready to be used for sprinkle.

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Saturday, November 5, 2011

Layar Seafood in Surabaya, Indonesia

Fresh Seafood, Preserved Eggs

Our current seafood restaurant in our hometown (Surabaya): Layar Seafood.

They have tanks and ice trays filled with live seafood right as you are walking in. Lobsters, crabs, fishes, clams, frogs. You name it. When you order, you just tell them how big a fish/crab/lobster you want. We've been going there every time I've been home (which is only once a year).

This time, we started with some frog legs :)
The frog legs here are nothing like what I've had in North America. Much more tender and flavorful here! Not like chicken at all. This particular one is made with some nice sweet soy-based sauce.

Then we went to their signature dish, "Kepiting Telur Asin" - which means "Salted Egg Crab"
As the name suggests, the sauce on the crab is made from Salted Duck Eggs (aka. Telur Asin). The salting is a method of preserving the eggs by soaking them in either brine or salted charcoal.
I thought loading the fresh crab with preserved eggs was somewhat ironic - but it is soo delicious so who cares!
A yummy savoriness filled my mouth with each sauce-laden bite of crab.

We also got some boiled crab with garlic broth
Good, and the freshness of the crab definitely stands out here. But flavor wise is a lot more subtle than the salted egg one, so we definitely liked the other one better, especially since we ate it first. This one tasted rather bland after eating the other. Should've started with this first.

I also have trouble finding good watercrest (Kangkung) dish in the US, so I ordered some here:
Sauteed watercrest/kangkung and shrimp in slightly spicy sauce.

A great meal throughout! Their ingredients are fresh and we can't seem to go wrong with any of the offerings here. Hopefully it will stay open next year as I plan to come back again and again. The Crab with "Telur Asin" is their unique dish and it would be such a shame if I can never eat it again!!

Layar Seafood
Jl. Raya Bukit Mas 109 Surabaya


Our current seafood restaurant in our hometown (Surabaya): Layar Seafood.
They have tanks and ice trays filled with live seafood right as you are walking in. Lobsters, crabs, fishes, clams, frogs. You name it. When you order, you just tell them how big a fish/crab/lobster you want. We've been going there every time I've been home (which is only once a year).
This time, we started with some frog legs :
)The frog legs here are nothing like what I've had in North America. Much more tender and flavorful here! Not like chicken at all. This particular one is made with some nice sweet soy-based sauce.
Then we went to their signature dish, "Kepiting Telur Asin" - which means "Salted Egg Crab"
As the name suggests, the sauce on the crab is made from Salted Duck Eggs (aka. Telur Asin). The salting is a method of preserving the eggs by soaking them in either brine or salted charcoal.
I thought loading the fresh crab with preserved eggs was somewhat ironic - but it is soo delicious so who cares!
A yummy savoriness filled my mouth with each sauce-laden bite of crab.
We also got some boiled crab with garlic broth
Good, and the freshness of the crab definitely stands out here. But flavor wise is a lot more subtle than the salted egg one, so we definitely liked the other one better, especially since we ate it first. This one tasted rather bland after eating the other. Should've started with this first.
I also have trouble finding good watercrest (Kangkung) dish in the US, so I ordered some here:
Sauteed watercrest/kangkung and shrimp in slightly spicy sauce.
A great meal throughout! Their ingredients are fresh and we can't seem to go wrong with any of the offerings here. Hopefully it will stay open next year as I plan to come back again and again. The Crab with "Telur Asin" is their unique dish and it would be such a shame if I can never eat it again!!
Layar Seafood
Jl. Raya Bukit Mas 109 Surabaya

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

World's 50 most delicious foods

The world has voted and we now know the name and origin of the world's most delicious food. But have you eaten it?

1. Rendang, Indonesia 

rendang Indonesia
1. No. 1 as voted by you.
Reader Kamal F Chaniago showed great foresight when he wrote, "Rendang is the best." A clear winner with a loyal following, this beefy dish can now rightfully claim the title of "World's Most Delicious Food."
Beef is slowly simmered with coconut milk and a mixture of lemongrass, galangal, garlic, turmeric, ginger and chilies, then left to stew for a few hours to create this dish of tender, flavorful bovine goodness.
The Indonesian dish is often served at ceremonial occasions and to honored guests. It's not only delicious but also comes with a simple recipe. If you haven't already, go ahead and take reader Isabela Desita's advice: "Rendang should be the first! It's really nice, you should try!"

2. Nasi goreng, Indonesia 

Nasi Goreng

2. More rice -- a common factor in many of these dishes

"I like rendang and nasi goreng, two of most popular food in Indonesia!" Reader Rizky Ramadhika's got it. And thousands of other voters agreed.
The wonder of combining rice with egg, chicken and prawns strikes again. The second fried rice to make the list, this Indonesian delight received more than 10 times the vote of its Thai counterpart (see #23), propelling the former from non-runner to runner-up.

3. Sushi, Japan 

sushi
3. Rice, salmon, wasabi -- world's greatest trio?
When Japan wants to build something right, it builds it really right. Brand giants such as Toyota, Nintendo, Sony, Nikon and Yamaha may have been created by people fueled by nothing more complicated than raw fish and rice, but it’s how the fish and rice is put together that makes this a global first-date favorite.
This perfect marriage between raw fish and rice has easily kept sushi in the top five. And like one reader, Nymayor, wrote, "Now to be fair, DELICIOUS can be simple."
The Japanese don’t live practically forever for no reason -- they want to keep eating this stuff.

4. Tom yam goong, Thailand 

tom yum goong
4. Do you eat or drink soup? Either way just get it inside you.
Reader Supot Sakulwongtana made it clear that "delicious includes a little bit hot." A little bit hot is right because you need room for a load more flavors too.
This Thai masterpiece teems with shrimp, mushrooms, tomatoes, lemongrass, galangal and kaffir lime leaves. Usually loaded with coconut milk and cream, the hearty soup unifies a host of favorite Thai tastes: sour, salty, spicy and sweet. Best of all is the price: cheap.

5. Pad thai, Thailand 

pad thai
5. Even better when it's messy.
Here's a food Thai people can't live without.
Similar to Bulgogi (see #22), pad Thai is packed with nutrients stirred into one glorious fried-noodle dish.
The secret's in the sauce -- tamarind paste. If anyone ever creates a Hall of Food Fame, that should be first on the list.

6. Som tam (Papaya salad), Thailand 

After reading reader Kun Chotpakdeetrakul's comment, "Papaya salad and som tam [are] the same thing. You should combine vote for these two together," we did just that, pushing som tam to just 80 votes shy of the top five.
To prepare Thailand's iconic salad, pound garlic and chilies with a mortar and pestle. Toss in tamarind juice, fish sauce, peanuts, dried shrimp, tomatoes, lime juice, sugar cane paste, string beans and a handful of grated green papaya

7. Dim sum, Hong Kong

 

dim sum in hong kong
7. Family lunches are fun again.
Equally fun and delicious to eat, a trip to Hong Kong isn't complete without trying this traditional Cantonese lunch food. Popular with everyone from pass-through tourists to local kids and the elderly, most dim sum come in bite-size pieces so you don't have to waste time cutting the stuff up.
Bring a few friends and wash the food down with the free-flow tea.

8. Ramen, Japan 

Ramen
8. World's loudest food?
Japanese protocol says the tastier your ramen is, the louder you should slurp it up to show respect to your chef. Not that they need more respect. One mouthful of this most Japanese of noodle broths will quickly tell you that either you have a ramen trigger in your brain, or Japanese chefs are geniuses.

9. Peking duck, China 

"Peking duck! its a wonder....." wrote Shan Cao on our Facebook page.
We can only guess Shan Cao was in the middle of forking a piece of this maltose-syrup glazed duck dish into his/her mouth and forgot to finish the sentence. Slow-roasted in an oven, the crispy, syrup-coated skin is so good that authentic eateries will serve more skin than meat, and bring it with pancakes, onions and hoisin or sweet bean sauce.
Other than flying or floating, this is the only way you want your duck.

10. Massaman curry, Thailand 

Massaman curry
10. Still a top 10 entry.
Although not the world's most delicious food, it is still emphatically the king of curries. Spicy, coconutty, sweet and savory, its combination of flavors has more personality than a Thai election.
Even the packet sauce you buy from the supermarket can make the most delinquent of cooks look like a Michelin potential. Thankfully, someone invented rice, with which diners can mop up the last drizzles of curry sauce.

11. Lasagna, Italy 

lasagna
11. Lasagna is right on so many levels.
Lasagna overtook pizza to become the most sought-after Italian food in this delicacy list. There’s a reason this pasta-layered, tomato-sauce-infused, minced-meaty gift to kids and adults alike is so popular -- it just works.

12. Kimchi, Korea 

kimchi
12. How much money have Korean restaurants lost out on by giving this away for free?
Is Korea the most generous nation or what? Korean restaurants provide this starter dish of fermented vegetables for free. Perhaps because few Koreans can last more than two days without it.

13. Chicken rice, Singapore 

Often called the “national dish” of Singapore, this steamed or boiled chicken is served atop fragrant oily rice, with sliced cucumber as the token vegetable. Variants include roasted chicken or soy sauce chicken.
The dipping sauces -- premium dark soy sauce, chili with garlic and pounded ginger -- give it that little extra oomph to ensure whenever you’re not actually in Singapore eating chicken rice, you’re thinking of it.

14. Satay, Indonesia 

Satay
14. Stick it, soak it, eat it, lick it.
Reader Paul Peh wrote, "I can make satay too but the prep will take at least half the day and [the eating will be done] in less than half hr. lol."
Half an hour? What's the hold up? Last time we drowned some skewered meat with this peanut-based sauce we were ready for seconds before you could say "mmmm

15. Ice cream, United States

Somehow there’s always room for a tooth-rotting, U.S.-style pile of ice cream with nuts, marshmallows and chocolate sauce.
Thank God for extra long spoons that allow you get at the real weight-gain stuff all mixed up and melted at the bottom of the glass.

16. Kebab, Turkey 

For keeping starvation at bay for the entire student population of the United Kingdom, the doner kebab should clearly be honored. But they are hardly the delicious prototype worthy of representing a region.
Reader Elena Vorobyeva told us, "There are so many forms and shapes of it: doner, iskender kebab, shish kebab, chop shish kebab, orman kebab, etc."
So summon the shish kebab. Pick your meat, shove a stick through it, grill. Then wonder why you don’t eat like this every day.

17. Gelato, Italy

 

Gelato
17. So many flavors to choose. Why bother?
Thanks to "Eat, Pray, Love," the best dessert in Italy is now more popular than ever. True gelato makers use only fresh ingredients and no artificial flavors or colors, and allow you to mix and match as many different flavors as you want.
With a higher density and less fat than ice cream, gelato often tastes richer but healthier -- perfect for your own "no-carb-left-behind" experiment.

18. Croissant, France 

Flaky pastry smothered in butter, a pile of raspberry jam smeared over the top and a soft, giving bite as you sink in your teeth; there’s nothing not to love about this fatty, sweet breakfast food that must be married to a cup of strong coffee.

19. Green curry, Thailand 

Green curry
19. It's easy eating green. 
 Kermit got it wrong. It's not hard being green, it's delicious. For many this coconutty-creamy and spicy curry should have made the top 10. Goes with steamed rice like bikinis go with Thai beaches.

20. Pho, Vietnam 

pho
20. Vietnam's answer to "What should I eat today?"
This oft-mispronounced national dish (“fuh” is correct) is just broth, fresh rice noodles, a few herbs and usually chicken or beef. But it’s greater than the sum of its parts -- fragrant, tasty and balanced, the polar opposite of the moto rider who brought you to the little café where you find the best stuff.

21. Fish 'n' chips, England

 

Fish and chips
21. A salty, vinegary homage to the basics.
Anything that’s been around since the 1860s can’t be doing much wrong. The staple of the Victorian British working class is a crunchy-outside, soft-inside dish of simple, un-adorned food fundamentals.
Sprinkled with salt, vinegar and dollops of tartar sauce, it is to nouveau cuisine what Meat Loaf is to Prince (or whatever he's calling himself now).

22. Egg tart, Hong Kong 

egg tart
22. Egg on your face can be a good thing.
Flaky on the crust with a sweet and smooth egg custard in the middle, egg tarts are best eaten hot when they're fresh out of an oven. This dessert can be ordered in the most rundown bakeries and most glamorous hotels in Hong Kong.
Former Governor of Hong Kong, Chris Patten, declared eating egg tarts one of his favorite pastimes in the city.

23. Bulgogi, Korea

bulgogi
23. The messiest, meatiest food for champions.
Literally meaning "fire" and "meat", this Korean dish has been in existence for nearly 1,000 years.
A bowl of bulgogi gives everything you need in a balanced diet -- carbohydrate (rice), protein (beef and egg), vitamins and minerals (mixed vegetables), and fat (oil). Four good reasons to order a second bowl.

24. Fried rice, Thailand 

It's true, anyone can fry rice. But can you fry it as well as the Thais? We suspect not.

25. Chocolate, Mexico 

The Mayans drank it, Lasse Hallström made a film about it and the rest of us get over the guilt of eating too much of it by eating more of it. The story of the humble cacao bean is a bona fide out-of-the-jungle, into-civilization tale of culinary wonder.
Without this creamy, bitter-sweet confection, Valentine’s Day would be all cards and flowers, Easter would turn back into another dull religious event and those halcyon days of gorging yourself to eruption point at Christmas would be fanciful imaginings.

26. Penang assam laksa, Malaysia 

Penang Assam Laksa

26. As photogenic as a food can get
Poached, flaked mackerel, tamarind, chili, mint, lemongrass, onion, pineapple … one of Malaysia’s most popular dishes is an addictive spicy-sour fish broth with noodles (especially great when fused with ginger), that’ll have your nose running before the spoon even hits your lips.

27. Tacos, Mexico 

A fresh, handmade tortilla stuffed with small chunks of grilled beef rubbed in oil and sea salt then covered with guacamole, salsa, onions, cilantro or anything else you want -- perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner. This is the reason few visitors leave Mexico weighing less than when they arrived.

28. Barbecue pork, Hong Kong 

BBQ pork
28. The best pork comes barbecued and honey-drizzled.
Along with many comments left by reader Louis4, s/he wrote, "TX bbq tastes like turds. Is that all you have beside that boring food?"
Here you go, Louis4. Your fellow readers suggested the Chinese version of barbecue pork. This honey-coated meat is sweet, tender and it goes well with everything -- rice, noodles or even by itself.
Ask for the half-fat, half-lean barbecue pork to really indulge in this delicacy.
Reader ST suggested that chili crabs, contrary to popular beliefs, aren't difficult to make. "Fantastic list of delicious food! Chilli Crabs are actually very easy to prepare. Here is an easy recipe for you :)"
ST forgot to mention, however, that it is difficult to stop eating it.

29. Chili crab, Singapore 

Reader ST suggested that chili crabs, contrary to popular beliefs, aren't difficult to make. "Fantastic list of delicious food! Chilli Crabs are actually very easy to prepare. Here is an easy recipe for you :)"
ST forgot to mention, however, that it is difficult to stop eating it.

30. Cheeseburger, United States 

The power of cheese? Add it to an ordinary hamburger, the food gets pushed up 13 spots in the poll.

31. Fried chicken, United States 

fried chicken
31. Clucking great. 
"I have had almost everything. But they left off fried chicken... " reader Michelle Souza commented.
Michelle: your fellow readers have made up for this unforgivable lapse. This all-time American favorite makes its entry with all the artery-choking goodness that made Colonel Sanders a very happy, if not healthy, man.

32. Lobster, Global 

lobster
32. If you were on a million menus you'd have big claws too.
Forget all your fancy, contrived lobster dishes deployed by showoff chefs eager for Michelin endorsement. When you have something as naturally delicious as these little fellas, keep it simple. The best way to enjoy lobster is simply to boil it and serve with a side of melted butter and slice of lemon.

33. Seafood paella, Spain 

The sea is lapping the shore by your feet, a warm breeze whips the tablecloth around your legs and a steamy pan of paella sits in front of you. Shrimp, lobster, mussels and cuttlefish combine with white rice and various herbs, oil and salt in this Valencian dish to send you immediately into holiday mode.
Though if you have it in Spain, you’re probably there already.

34. Shrimp dumpling, Hong Kong 

shrimp dumpling in hong kong
34. Small but brilliant.
Succulent shrimps, steamed well but not overdone, wrapped inside translucent rice paper. This simple form of dim sum has been a must-eat dish for decades.

35. Neapolitan pizza, Italy 

The best pizza was and still is the simple Neapolitan, an invention now protected by its own trade association that insists on sea salt, high-grade wheat flour, the use of only three types of fresh tomatoes, hand-rolled dough and the strict use of a wood-fired oven, among other quality stipulations.
With just a few ingredients -- dough, tomatoes, olive oil, salt and basil (the marinara pizza does not even contain cheese) -- the Neapolitans created a food that few make properly, but everyone enjoys thoroughly.

36. Moo nam tok, Thailand 

Grilled pork combined with lemon juice, green onions, chili, mint sprigs, fish sauce and toasted rice. Legend has it the blood from the meat along with the dressing inspired some happy carnivore to name this brilliant dish “waterfall (nam tok moo) meat.”

37. Potato chips, United States 

potato chips
37. The world's cheapest delicacy?
 Despite major criticisms suggesting that potato chips aren't real food, voters like Deepti Ravi believe that they "rock."
What started as a chef's trick on a fussy diner is now one of the world’s most child-friendly foods. But think of them this way -- if a single chip cost, say, US$5, it’d be a far greater (and more popular) delicacy than caviar, a prize worth fighting wars over.

38. Warm brownie and vanilla ice cream, Global

 

molten chocolate
38. The dessert you can use to compare all the world's restaurants.
There are some diners who will not frequent an establishment if it does not have brownie and ice cream on the dessert menu. You may call them fools.
We do, too, but having done so we then happily leave the first restaurant after the main course to visit one we know has this perfect dessert on offer.

39. Masala dosa, India

Masala Dosa
39. Breakfast for one billion people.
A crispy, rice-batter crepe encases a spicy mix of mashed potato, which is then dipped in coconut chutney, pickles, tomato-and-lentil-based sauces and other condiments. It’s a fantastic breakfast food that’ll keep you going till lunch, when you’ll probably come back for another.

40. Bibimbap, Korea 

bibimbap

40. See, healthy food can taste good

Mixed vegetables and beef, sitting atop steaming-hot rice, held together by a half-raw egg. The beauty of this Korean dish lies at least partially in the diner's DIY mixing of the ingredients.
Bibambap is best when served in a heated stone bowl, and eaten with metal chopsticks.

41. Galbi, Korea 

"Yeah, I would have thrown Kalbi Jim or something similar on there," wrote reader Nobody. "Some Korean dishes are savagely good." 
We could forgive Nobody for opening 222 Facebook accounts to put Galbi in the list. But we're pretty sure the balance of sweet and savory in Korean short ribs means there's no underhand vote-rigging required.

42. Hamburger, Germany 

Hamburger
42. Yes I love you. Now gimme a bite.
When something tastes so good that people spend US$20 billion each year in a single restaurant chain devoted to it, you know it has to fit into this list. McDonald’s may not offer the best burgers, but that’s the point -- it doesn’t have to.
The bread-meat-salad combination is so good that entire countries have ravaged their eco-systems just to produce more cows.

43. Fajitas, Mexico 

This assembly kit of a dining experience is a thrill to DIY enthusiasts everywhere.
Step 1: Behold the meat sizzling on a fiery griddle. Step 2: Along with the meat, throw side servings of capsicum, onion, guacamole, sour cream and salsa into a warm, flour tortilla. Step 3: Promise all within hearing range that you’ll have “just one more.” Step 4: Repeat.

44. Laksa, Singapore 

Whether it originates in Singapore, Malaysia or Indonesia as reader Bob Haris Mandela claimed, an authentic bowl of laksa always comes with slippery vermicelli, a spicy broth (the spicier the better), generous toppings of shredded chicken and fresh prawns.
One whiff of its pungent curry-coconut aroma and you'll be transported to all three countries. Best way to travel ever.

45. Roti prata, Singapore

Roti prata
45. A flippin' great dish.
 The truth is curry wouldn't be curry if it wasn't for this dough-based pancake.
Looks and tastes like Indian naan, roti prata is flipped and turned and flipped again before it's heated over a grill plate. Its preparation is so theatrical you'll feel like dancing a jig while you're eating it.

46. Maple syrup, Canada 

maple syrup
46. Canada's greatest food.
 With poutine and Montreal-style smoked meat not making the top 50, maple syrup becomes the sole Canadian representative in the list. But before selling you on its natural flavor and balanced sweetness, we must give credit to its mentor, the waffle, playing Batman to maple syrup's edgier, sexier Robin.

47. Fettucini alfredo, Italy 

Saying no to fettucini alfredo is like turning down Monica Bellucci. It's just wrong.
The main ingredients are butter and Parmesan cheese; it's rich and creamy and it can be made in 15 minutes (consumption time included). A good serving of this can turn dinner with the family into something you actually look forward to.

48. Parma ham, Italy 

Possibly the most versatile food of all. You see it folded around melon, wrapped around grissini, placed over pizza, heaped over salad.
There’s good reason for that: these salty, paper-thin slices of air-dried ham lift the taste of everything they accompany to a higher level, following the same theory as the Italian guy who thinks carrying around a copy of “Candide” makes up for the tiny Speedos.

49. Lechon, Philippines 

lechon
49. Great tan, better taste.
Young pigs, chosen for their tender meat, are rotated and roasted thoroughly over a fire pit for hours. The result is a thin layer of crispy skin on juicy, succulent meat. Every mouthful makes you wonder why you eat anything else.
Great way to kick off this list.

50. Goi cuon, Vietnam 

Goi cuon
50. Little packages of delightful herbal freshness.
This snack made from pork, shrimp, herbs, rice vermicelli and other ingredients wrapped in rice paper is served at room temperature. It’s “meat light,” with the flavors of refreshing herbs erupting in your mouth.
Dipped in a slightly sweet sauce laced with ground peanuts, it’s wholesome, easy and the very definition of “moreish.”

Saturday, October 15, 2011

40 of Indonesia's best dishes

Sambal, martabak, rendang: If you can read this list without drooling you're doing better than us

1. Sambal

Sambal
The king of condiments -- a foodstuff all to itself.
While technically more of a condiment, the chili-based sauce known as sambal is a staple at all Indonesian tables.
Dishes are not complete unless they have a hearty dollop of the stuff, a combination of chilies, sharp fermented shrimp paste, tangy lime juice, sugar and salt all pounded up with mortar and pestle.
So beloved is sambal, some restaurants have made it their main attraction, with options that include young mango, mushroom and durian.
Try the sambal at Pedas Abis (Waroeng Spesial Sambal; Jl.RM.Said No.39 Solo) or fresh sambal mata at Le Seminyak (Pacific Place, level 5; +62 (0)21 5140 0610)

2. Satay

Sate
Most underrated part of great satay? The stick.These tasty meat skewers cook up over coals so hot they need fans to waft the smoke away.

Whether it’s chicken, goat, mutton or rabbit, the scrappy morsels get marinated in turmeric, barbecued and then bathed in a hearty dose of peanut sauce.
Other nations now lay claim to sate, but Indonesians consider it a national dish conceived by street vendors and popularized by Arab traders.
Each vendor seeks distinction, but "sate madura" –- served with rice cakes (ketupat) and diced cucumber and onion -– is distinguished by its boat-shaped street carts.
For legendary satay that dates to the 1950s, try Sate Ragusa (Jl. Veteran 1 No. 10) and cleanse the palate after with Ragusa’s signature spaghetti ice cream. 

3. Bakso

Bakso
We're not always sure what's in it, but we're always sure we'll want more.A favorite among students, this savory meatball noodle soup gained international fame when U.S. President Barack Obama remembered it as one of his favorites during a visit to Jakarta last November.

It takes on many forms; meatballs –- springy or rubbery, the size of golf balls or bigger -– are made from chicken, beef, pork or some amorphous combination of them all. Sold mostly from pushcarts called kaki lima, bakso comes garnished with fried shallots, boiled egg and wontons.
For an authentic experience, grab a plastic stool near any sidewalk bakso stand or slurp away indoors at Bakso Lapangan Tembak Senayan, near Senayan City Mall.

4. Soto

Soto
Street comfort food.
This traditional meat soup comprises a broth and ingredients that vary across the archipelago.

Common street versions are made of a simple, clear soup flavored with chicken, goat or beef. In Jakarta, home of the indigenous Betawi, soto Betawi garners fame with its sweet, creamy, coconut-milk base.
Top it with crispy shallots and fried garlic, and as much or little sambal as your taste buds can take.
For stylish street food in air-conditioned bliss hit up Kafe Betawi (Jl. MH. Thamrin No. 1, Grand Indonesia; +62 (0)21 2358 0501). Or for an East Javanese version, try Soto Madura (Jl. Juanda No.16).

5. Nasi goreng

Nasi goreng
If you think this one should be the top pick, you're not alone.
Considered Indonesia’s national dish, this take on Asian fried rice is often made with sweet, thick soy sauce called kecap (pronounced ketchup) and garnished with acar, pickled cucumber and carrots.

To add an element of fun to your dining experience, try nasi gila (literally :crazy rice") and see how many different kinds of meat you can find buried among the grains –- yes, those are hot dog slices.
For a perfect oil-slicked entrée head to Menteng Plaza (Jl. HOS Cokroaminoto), where a gaggle of kaki limas and buskers provide entertainment. 
 

6. Gado-gado

Gado-gado
A favorite mix of taste and healthy ingredients.Literally “mix-mix,” the term gado-gado is often used to describe situations that are all mixed up -– Jakarta, for instance, is a gado-gado city.

As a food, however, it is one of Indonesia’s best-known dishes, essentially a vegetable salad bathed in the country’s classic peanut sauce.
At its base are boiled long beans, spinach, potato, corn, egg and bean sprouts coupled with cucumber, tofu and tempe.
Gado-gado gets sweeter as you travel eastward through Indonesia -- but Jakartans swear by the cashew sauce at Gado-Gado Boplo (Jalan Panglima Polim 4; +62 (0)21 724 8334).

7. Nasi uduk


Nasi uduk
Because who doesn't love rice topped with melinjo nut crackers?

A perennial favorite among native Betawi, the meal revolves around rice cooked in coconut milk and includes a pinwheel of various meat and vegetable accoutrements.
It almost always includes fried chicken, boiled eggs and tempe (soybean cake) with anchovies and is topped with emping (melinjo nut crackers).
It’s cheap, fast and popular among lunchtime crowds.
Nearly four decades old and still going strong Nasi Uduk Babe Saman (Kebon Kacang 9; +62 (0)21 314 1842) packs in everyone from students to celebrities morning, noon and night.

8. Nasi padang

Nasi padang
Back off, Singapore. This one is ours.

Singaporeans may say they can’t live without it, but nasi padang, named after its birth city in Sumatra, is 100 percent Indonesian.
Chose from among more than a dozen dishes -- goopy curries with floating fish heads or rubbery cow’s feet -- stacked up on your table. “It always looks so dead,” a friend once said.
Indeed, otak (brain) leaves little to the imagination. Chuck away the cutlery and dig in with your hands then wash the spice away with a sweet iced tea.
Try out any Sederhana or head for Garuda Nasi Padang; Jl. Gajah Mada, Medan, Sumatra.

9. Ayam goreng

Ayam goreng
IFC could be a worthy rival for KFC.
The key to Indonesian fried chicken is the use of small village birds, whose freedom to run around the yard makes them tastier than the big chunks of meat at KFC.

Variations on that chain have cropped up across the country -- rumor has it that Wong Solo was founded by a polygamist, so franchisees must have multiple wives.
For a famed old recipe try Ayam Goreng Nyona Suharti (Jl. Kapten Tendean No. 13; +62 (0)21 525 4595).

10. Bakmie goreng


Bakmie goreng
Carb load, Indonesian style. 
Noodles compete with rice for carbohydrate of choice in Indonesia, ranging from broad and flat (kwetiau) to scrawny vermicelli (bihun).
The best are bakmie -- pencil-thin and, in this case, fried with egg, meat and vegetables. Vendors add their own special spices for distinction, but the iconic Bakmie Gajah Mada garners a cult following.
More modern outlets now make noodles from spinach and beets.
Bakmie Gang Mangga (Jl. Kemurnian IV/0) gives diners an in to the cool hangouts in the old city, but only after 5 p.m. For an earlier version, try Bakmie GM on Jl. Sunda No.9 (+62 021 390 3018)

11. Gudeg

Gudeg
The greatest fruit stew in the world.
Fit for a sultan it may not be, but gudeg is certainly the signature of the royal city of Yogyakarta. The sweet jackfruit stew is boiled for hours in coconut milk and palm sugar, making the fruit so soft and tender it falls apart with little chewing.
Other spices are thrown into the mix but teak leaves give it a brown coloring. Like nasi uduk, it is served with rice, boiled egg, chicken and crispy, fried beef skin.
Adem Ayem (Jl. Slamet Riyadi No. 342) in Solo is a landmark, and for good reason.

12. Rawon


Rawon
Dark soup. Colorful past.
A beef stew from East Java that goes heavy on the keluak nut to give it a nutty flavor and a deep, black color.
The soup base also mingles with garlic, shallots, ginger, turmeric and red chili to make it nice and spicy.
The most famous variant, Rawon Setan (literally Devil’s soup) is found in Surabaya (Jl. Embong Malang).

13. Pecel lele




Pecel lele
The noble catfish knows no cultural boundaries.
The sight of fried catfish may surprise first-time diners since it looks almost the same as it does living -- eyeballs and all.
Served with rice and red and green sambal, this is simple street fare that fills the belly, which may be why it’s a standout across Jakarta.
If you want to go native, head to Bakmie GM near Sarinah Mall and look for the “Pecel Lele” banner that shields diners from the street as they dig into the sweet, grilled meat.

14. Opor ayam


Opor ayam
A Ramadan necessity.
Small diners, called warungs, now sell this traditional dish of braised chicken in coconut milk on a daily basis. Still, it remains a staple on tables around the end of Ramadan, when it’s served with packed rice cakes (ketupat).
A little like a mild, slightly chalky curry with less prep time required, it’s filled with Indonesia’s signature spices -- garlic, ginger, cumin and coriander.
To see how mom makes it, check out Ibu Endang Warung (Jl. Cipete Raya opposite Epilogue).

15. Mie ayam


Mie ayam
In search of the perfect noodle dish? Stop here.
For this dish, bakmie is boiled in stock and topped with succulent slices of gravy-braised chicken.
Chives and sambal add extra flavor -- but if it’s done right little else is needed. Unlike most Indonesian cuisine, where the secret is in the sauce, the clue to a good mie ayam is the perfect al dente noodle.
Bakmie Orpha (Jl. Malaka II No. 25; +62(0)21 691 2450), a hole in the wall in west Jakarta, draws Ferrari-owning clientele for its deceivingly tasty mie and wontons.

16. Babi guling


Babi guling
He'll look better in a few hours.
Pork is uncommon in this Muslim majority nation, but we had to include roast suckling pig given the near hysteria it generates on the Hindu island of Bali.
The Balinese respect their food and lavish attention on its preparation. Before spit-roasting the pig they bath it in coconut water and rub it with chili, turmeric, garlic and ginger to ensure succulence.
See why people fly from Jakarta to scarf the crispy skinned pork at Warung Ibu Oka (Jl Suweta, Ubud), but be sure to get there before 3 p.m.

17. Gulai


Gulai
Gulai comes in many styles. We prefer yellow.
Gulai is the common name for curry dishes, namely those from north Sumatra.
Indonesian curries have regional variations that depend on the types of meat and fish available -- though gulai almost always incorporates cinnamon. Opor and rendang can be considered gulais, but better to try out the rainbow of other options.
For a tangy fish-head curry, try Pagi-Sore, a national franchise that hails from Sumatra (Jl. Pondok No. 143, Padang).

18. Bubur ayam


Bubur ayam
Consensus builder.
From blue-collar workers to government ministers, almost everyone starts their day with this rice gruel, a savory porridge served with soy sauce, fried shallots, shredded chicken, beans and crackers.
Outside Java variations can include corn, cassava and fish, while a sweeter version -- for those who prefer not to start their day with a blast of chili -- is made with mung beans.
Bubur ayam is also popular in the wee hours of the morning. Join the late-night revelers at Bubur Ayam Mang Oyo, Jl. Sulanjana (near Gasibu), Bandung.

19. Bakpao


Bakpao
The best thing about rush hour.
Jakarta gridlock may be a blessing for the bakpao market.
Vendors often line busy roads during rush hour to offer these fluffy meat-filled buns to hungry passersby in need of a snack. Sweet offerings include chocolate and green bean, indicated by a colored dot on top.
No need to go in search of them, they’ll find you.

20. Asinan sayur


Asinan sayur
Old spice. Fresh taste.
When palates crave the opposite of Javanese sweetness, this pickled vegetable salad offers reprieve.
The secret is in the dressing, a thin peanut sauce swirled with palm sugar to offset the salty snap of preserved mustard leaf, carrot, cabbage and cucumber. The krupuk cracker crunch comes from a yellow disc made with egg noodles.
Yaya has been serving up bowls of Asinan for 22 years outside the iconic Ragusa Ice Cream shop (Jl. Veteran 1 No. 10.) He also makes a mean dried-squid salad called juhi.

21. Cah kangkung

Cah kangkung
You will eat your river weed and you will like it. Seriously.
Otherwise known as water spinach, a common river weed, kangkung gets stir fried with sweet soybean sauce, huge slices of garlic, bird’s-eye chili and shrimp paste to take it from a poor man’s food to something with a kick.
Because it grows well in any kind of soil, it is a common ingredient in dishes throughout Asia. Here the cah indicates its Chinese origins.
Try it along with gurame at Santika, Jl. Bendungan Hilir across from the market.

22. Pepes ikan 


Pepes ikan
You can get your tuna out of a can -- or you can eat it the right way.
Pepes signifies the steaming of food in banana leaves, which gives it an earthy flavor that works well with the rich Manadonese spices (woku) it’s coupled with.
When matched with tuna the result is a dense, fiery dish that holds its distinct flavors, but should be eaten gingerly.
Beautika (Jl. Hang Lekir No. 1; +62 (0)21 722 6683) does it best by dousing it in chili and placing pepper icons on the menu – the three-pepper maximum has serious attitude. 

23. Pempek


Pempek
Douse it in vinegar, chili and sugar sauce, and it'll get eaten.
According to lore, the name pempek refers to the old Chinese man who first produced these fish and tapioca cakes from Palembang in South Sumatra.
Now a Palembang specialty, pempek or empek-empek comes in a variety of shapes and sizes.
The most famed, kapal selam, literally submarine, contains a chicken egg and is rumored to be the most nutritious form of the spongy dough balls, which are sprinkled with shrimp powder and served with cuka, a dark dipping sauce made from vinegar, chili and sugar.
Try Pempek Wak Ayah Lemak at Kebon Sirih, Palembang.

24. Perkadel


Perkadel
Never judge a perkadel by its cover.
So simple it’s often overlooked, Perkadel’s unassuming appearance belies its flavorful punch.
A distant relative of Dutch minced-meat frikandel, these croquettes are either potato based and filled with beef or made from corn (perkadel jagung).
In Bandung, crowds line up late night in seedy alleyways to snack on potato fritters made soft from frying in hot oil.
For a fluffier version filled with Balinese spices try Le Semenyak (Pacific Place, level 5; +62 (0)21 5140 0610).

25. Martabak


Martabak
You can make it without lard. But why bother?
Think of a spongy, thick crepe made with 10 times the lard and you’ll be somewhat close to imaging martabak.
The sweet version looks more like a pancake filled with gooey chocolate, peanuts or cheese, while the savory one is made from crispy pulled pastry like filo that is flattened in a wok as egg and minced meats are rapidly folded in.
Served with pickled cucumber and a sweet and sour vinegar.
Martabak Ayah; Jl TWK Mohd Daudsyah, Banda Aceh.

26. Sayur asem


Sayur asem
From West Java with love -- as well as melinjo, bilimbi and chayote.
This clear, refreshing soup derived from tamarind pairs well with fried food since it’s stocked with vegetables and some of Indonesia’s most interesting ingredients: melinjo, bilimbi, chayote.
A very close relative called sayur lodeh is made with coconut milk and has a sweeter flavor.
Counterintuitively, this West Javanese dish is great at Warung Surabaya (Jl. DR. Abdul Rachman Saleh).

27. Sop buntut


Sop buntut
A little bit of Australia sometimes finds its way into the bowl.
Revitalized by the chef at Hotel Borabodor in 1973 after a food and beverage staffer saw a government minister eating a bowl on the street, oxtail soup is loved by Indonesians from all classes.
The high-end version -- now the domain of Indonesia’s diplomatic corps -- uses imported Australian beef, 7,000 kilograms a month to be precise, and comes complete with steamed rice, pickles, lime and sambal.
For a less pretentious outlet, try Sop Buntut Bogor Café (Pacific Place Mall, level 5; +62 (0)21 5797 3238).

28. Ketoprak


Ketoprak
Not theatrical, but dramatic nonetheless.
Not to be confused with the theatrical drama of the same name that re-enacts Javanese legends, this Ketoprak is made from vermicelli, tofu, packed rice cake and bean sprouts.
It rounds out the quintet of pestle-and-mortar-based dishes that include gado-gado and pecel, and is a simple street dish that tastes mostly of peanuts and spice but is chockfull of carbohydrates.
Any street vendor will do, but to stave off a funny tummy try Gado-Gado Kartika (Jl. Pinang Emas III; +62 (0)21 750 8846).

29. Balado terong


Balado terong
If it's red, you'll eat it. Think about it.
The color of this dish is enough to set taste buds going.
Nothing more than grilled purple eggplant topped with heaps of chili sauce made from dried shrimp paste (balacan), it calls for a substantial portion of rice to even out the fire-engine flavor.
Enjoy the low-light ambiance at Seribu Rasa (Jl. Haji Agus Salim 128; +62 (0)21 392 8892), which delights in the use of balacan.

30. Lontong sayur


Lontong sayur
A crunchy start to the day.
Boiled for hours in coconut leaf casings, the glutinous packed rice cake known as lontong is one of the best vehicles for pairing with thick peanut sauces and curries.
It serves as the base for this savory morning favorite, a coconut-milk curry made with young papaya, soy-braised tofu and hard-boiled eggs.
Crushed up krupuk add a little crunch to get you going.
Pak Sule draws a crowd to his street stand outside the ANZ building on Jl. Gatot Subroto before 10 a.m.

31. Rendang


Rendang
Don't try this at home.
Perhaps Padang’s most famed curry, rendang is not an everyday food since it takes time and skill to make.
Its secret is in the gravy, which wraps around the beef for hours until, ideally, it’s splendidly tender.
A dried version, which can be kept for months (like jerky) is reserved for honored guests and important celebrations.
If you stop by Sederhana (Jl. Gandaria Tengah III No. 23; +62 (0)21 725 0172) for Padang, you can’t let this plate pass you by.

32. Tahu gerjrot


Tahu gerjrot
Reason number 467 to love tofu.
These clouds of golden, fried tofu look like little packages behind the windows of the boxes from which they are sold.
Tofu is a poor man’s snack, but that also makes it prevalent. Keep an eye out for the vendors who cart stacks of the fluffy fried tofu from devices slung across their shoulders.
For a version steeped in sweet soy sauce and chili and served in a pestle and mortar, head to Menteng Plaza (Jl. HOS Cokrominoto).

33. Sop kambing


Sop kambing
Pairs well with Norway.
If Indonesia ever got cold enough to necessitate a winter stew sop kambing would be even more popular.
A robust soup with a yellow broth full of celery, tomato, and great chunks of goat meat, this dish could make the Campbell’s soup man quiver. Be warned if you have high blood pressure since the dish will heat you up.
Ginger, lime leaf, candlenut and spring onion give it peppery smell that adds to its refreshingly earthy flavor.
Try Sop Kaki Kambing (Jl. Kendal) nestled in among a stretch of roadside eateries.

34. Siomay


Siomay
For bicycle vendors, it's bread and butter.
Think of it as Indonesia’s version of dim sum -- traditional steamed fish dumplings known in China as shaomai.
A complete portion comes with a steamed potato, cabbage, egg, and bitter gourd, and is served with a boiled peanut sauce similar to gado-gado.
Perhaps Indonesia’s most ubiquitous traveling street food, the best way to dine on siomay is from a bicycle vendor, who carts his large steamer around on the back of his bike.
For the less health-inclined, an alternative to siomay is batagor, which is fried instead of steamed.
Siomay Pak Lili at Jl. Geger Kalong Girang, Bandung.

35. Ikan bakar


Ikan bakar
The best things in life are the simplest.
Grilled fish, plain and simple. But in a country with more than 17,000 islands, fish is bound to feature prominently.
While squid and prawns have a place in Indonesian cuisine, ikan bakar gets a far better showing for a fleshy texture that is great for dipping.
It is usually marinated in the typical trove of spices and served with a soy and chili-based sauce.
Try the gurame, a Sundanese star, at Ikan Bakar Cianjur (Jl. Cipete Raya No. 35; +62 (0)21 7590 0222).

36. Daun papaya


Papaya leaf
The all-purpose papaya comes through again.
Papaya is one of the fastest growing trees in Southeast Asia, and its bitter leaves are great for sautéing.
This dish is common in Manado, but regional variations have made it popular among the leaf-and-seed-eating crowd, a big bunch in Indonesia.
For a crisp version head to Bumbu Desa (Jl. Suryo No. 38; +62 (0)21 720 1244).

37. Otak-otak


Otak otak
So good, you'll customize your forks for it.
Another famed fish cake from Palembang, otak-otak has a more charming appearance, since it’s wrapped in banana leaves before being grilled over charcoal.
Indigenous Sumatrans eat it with red chili mixed with fermented soy sauce, but in Jakarta it is served with Java’s ubiquitous peanut sauce.
Pick a few small parcels up from any bicycle vendor, or dine in style at Harum Manis (Jl. Mas Mansyur No. 26; +62 (0)21 5794 1727), where the delicate fish flavor goes down well with Indonesian-styled ice cream.

38. Bebek goreng


Bebek goreng
Tricky to prepare. Easy to eat.
Ducks are common companions to rice fields around Indonesia, but they can be difficult to prepare for consumption.
Too often fried duck comes as a mass of tiny bones and overly fried oily meat. That doesn’t make it any less worthy of the top 40, though.
At the dramatic Dapur Babah (Jl. Veteran no. 18-19, Jakarta; +62 (0)21 385 5653), duck comes marinated in galangal sauce and topped with shredded ginger.
For a less fussy version, check out Bebek Bengil (Jl. Hanoman, Bali; +62 (0)361 975 489).

39. Gorengan


Gorengan
Fry it, and they will come.
Literally “fried foods,” gorengan are the most prolific snacks in all of Indonesia.
Street carts typically offer crispy golden nuggets of tempe, cassava and tofu, as well as fried bananas, sweet potatoes, vegetables fritters made from shredded carrot, cabbage and bean sprouts and fermented soybean cakes.
Stop by any kaki lima and walk away with an oil-stained news-wrapping topped with a handful of green chili.

40. Indomie


Indomie
The reason they invented "to go."
If you had to name one food Indonesians couldn’t live without, it would have to be one that is easy to transport, since they’re often on the go.
That makes instant-noodle Indomie beloved by all. Sold at grocery stores, village mom and pop shops and even from the basket of bicycles, Indomie calls for nothing more than hot water and a packet of chemical-induced flavoring before it’s ready to fill one’s tummy.
Found: everywhere. Taste: unforgettable.