'Rendang' is a dish which originated from the
Minangkabau people of
Indonesia.
[1] It is one of the characteristic foods of Minangkabau culture, and is served at ceremonial occasions and to honor guests.
[2] Also popular in
Malaysia and
Singapore, rendang is traditionally prepared by the
Malay community during festive occasions. Though rendang is sometimes described as being like a curry, and the name is sometimes applied to curried meat dishes in Malaysia, authentic rendang is nothing like a curry.
Rendang is made from
beef (or occasionally
chicken,
mutton,
water buffalo meat, duck or vegetables like
jackfruit or
cassava) slowly cooked in
coconut milk and
spices for several hours until almost all the liquid is gone, leaving the meat coated in the spicy condiments. The cooking process changes from boiling to frying as the liquid evaporates. The spices may include
ginger,
galangal,
turmeric leaf,
lemon grass and
chillies. The slow cooking process allows the meat to absorb all the spices and to become tender.
There are two kinds of rendang: dried and wet. Dried rendang can be kept for 3–4 months, and it is for ceremonial occasions or to honor guests. Wet rendang, also known as ''kalio'', can be found in Minangkabau restaurants and without refrigeration it should be consumed within a month.
Rendang is often served with
rice in Indonesia but in Malaysia it is served with
ketupat (a compressed rice cake) and
lemang (glutinous rice barbecued in bamboo tubes).
See also
★
Cuisine of Indonesia
★
Cuisine of Malaysia
★
Cuisine of Singapore
References
1. The Rice Book, , Sri, Owen, Doubleday, ,
2. Contemporary Minangkabau food culture in West Sumatra, Indonesia, , Nur I, Lipoeto, Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition,