Garuda Indonesia Colours Magazine December 2017 | Page 88

86 Explore | Flavours
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1 These delicious little parcels of glutinous rice filled with seasoned shredded chicken , fish or meat floss wrapped in banana leaf are perfect for breakfast or afternoon tea .
2 The most common rengginang are deep fried with added pinches of salt for a traditional salty taste . Sweet rengginang uses thick liquefied coconut sugar coated or poured on it .
© Helen Yuanita
Indonesia is also home to other lighter traditional snacks , such as rengginang , a cracker-like snack typically made of dried rice .
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Lemper is the most popular snack . Made from a mix of sticky rice and coconut milk , this dish stands out for its versatility , qualifying both as a snack to be had at any time of the day and as a breakfast meal . According to research , the name lemper comes from the Javanese phrase ‘ Yen dilem atimu ojo memper ’, which means ‘ one should refrain from being prideful upon receiving praise ’.
In other words , consuming lemper should serve as a call for us to live as humble human beings . It is also worth noting that lemper is one of the delicacies typically served during traditional Javanese events , such as wedding parties . The use of sticky rice as its main ingredient also serves as a symbol of friendship , wherein those involved are to be as inseparable as the grains of rice in a lemper .
Another famous street food is bika Ambon , which , according to M . Muhar Omtatok , a historian and cultural expert of the Cerita Medan Community , originates from the bika or bingka cake . Over the years , the snack has enjoyed various modifications from the Malay cake bingka . Some have tried the use of nira or tuak enau to serve as new types of baking powder , which gives the cake its unique texture and flavours that are akin to martabak manis , another popular Indonesian dessert .
According to one story , this snack rose to prominence on Jalan Ambon Sei Kera in Medan , North Sumatra . Another story says that bika Ambon was brought by Ambonese who travelled to Malaysia , then stayed in Medan to produce the snack . Soon enough , bika Ambon became more popular than local dishes sold in the city ’ s traditional markets .
Not limited to lemper and bika Ambon , there ’ s another street food available called kue lumpur . Some say that the cake came from bakeries run by ethnic Chinese owners ; however , other sources say it was brought into the country by the Portuguese . There may be some truth to the latter theory as Portuguese Christmas pastry bears the same flavour as Indonesia ’ s kue lumpur . The kue lumpur we know today has evolved into different types and forms , with various toppings and main ingredients that each offer a unique sensation in the mouth .
There is also klepon . This street food originated in Central Java , and is made from glutinous rice flour and then formed into small green and sometimes pink balls . The snack will give you a surprise when you bite into it : you will taste the sweet sensation of liquid palm sugar and savoury taste of coconut shreds . The combination of the sweet and savoury of klepon symbolises the togetherness of friends and family .
Indonesia is also home to other lighter traditional snacks , such as rengginang , a cracker-like snack typically made of dried rice . After being dried , rengginang undergoes a natural baking process by being left under the sun . Rengginang can be savoury , sweet or plain . If you ’ re familiar with kerupuk or crackers , rengginang is made using a nearly identical process , where the dried batter is fried prior to being served .
Raka Masduki , a young man from Rengasbandung , Cikarang , is passionate about the preservation of traditional Indonesian snacks . Through Biaji Rengginang , Raka is looking to maintain rengginang as a favourite among young foodies by serving them with an appealing array of flavours such as premium chocolate , premium green tea , spicy original , terasi , rendang and cheese .
Created to appeal to a millennial audience , Raka said his goal is for rengginang to be known despite the popularity of other modern snacks , emphasising that young Indonesians should be proud of their traditional roots . Today , Biaji Rengginang has official resellers across cities in Indonesia .
Even with the rise of modern delicacies , Indonesian traditional snacks remain a favourite for many . Tasty and affordable , they are hard to resist .