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Rendang is a dish which originated from the Minangkabau
ethnic group of Indonesia, and is now commonly served across the country.
One of the characteristic foods of Minangkabau culture, it is served at
ceremonial occasions and to honour guests. |
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Left: Lamb rendang. |
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, duck, or vegetables like jackfruit or cassava)
slowly cooked in coconut milk and spices for several hours until almost all the
liquid is gone, allowing the meat to absorb the spicy condiments. The cooking
process changes from boiling to frying as the liquid evaporates. The slow
cooking process allows the meat to absorb all the spices and to become tender.
The spices may include ginger, galangal, turmeric leaf, lemon grass and
chillies. Chicken or duck rendang also contains tamarind and is usually not
cooked for as long as beef rendang.
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 honour 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 also
served with
ketupat (a compressed rice cake) and lemang (glutinous rice
barbecued in bamboo tubes).
