photo: A home-cooked ayam masak merah dish
Eid. It marks the end of Ramadan, where Muslims fast for 30 days. In Asia, Hari Raya is a more commonly used term instead of Eid. During this time, family members visit one another and bond over scrumptious meals. Here are some festive dishes served during Hari Raya.
Ketupat
Ketupat is a diamond-shaped rice cake1. After the rice is fully cooked, it is compressed and wrapped by hand in woven coconut leaves. It is often served alongside main dishes during the Hari Raya season1. In Indonesia, ketupats are called badka ketupat, where Indonesians consume it as a symbol of forgiveness after Ramadan has concluded1.
Ayam Masak Merah
When loosely translated, ayam masak merah means red-cooked chicken in Bahasa Malay2. The chicken is fried until partially cooked. It continues to cook further in the tomato-based sauce with plenty of heat derived from the chilies. The dish has a harmonious balance of sweet and spicy3.
Rendang
Rendang can be traced back to its Indonesian origin, which means slowly4. This is referred to the slow-cooking process involved when preparing a rendang dish. There are several variations to this dish, such as chicken rendang, beef rendang, and other meats. In a standard chicken rendang dish, the poultry is cooked with traditional spices and coconut milk until the meat is tender. The spice mixture includes a mix of minced garlic, chopped onions, chilies, turmeric, ginger, lemongrass and plenty more4.
Beef rendang served as a meal
References:
- National Library Board Singapore. (2015). Ketupat. [onine] Available at: http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_2015-10-26_111827.html
- Goody Foodies. (2012). I cooked: Express ayam masak merah & Selamat Hari Raya Haji. [online] Available at: http://goodyfoodies.blogspot.com/2012/10/recipe-express-ayam-masak-merah-selamat.html
- Che Zahara. (2012). Ayam Masak Merah. [online] Available at: http://www.chezahara.com/blog/ayam-masak-merah-8041.html
- The Straits Times. (2018). 3 things to know about rendang, beyond the fact that it’s not crispy. [online] Available at: https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/food/3-things-to-know-about-rendang