Cuisine of Indonesia is a mix of the cooking styles of the various regions around Indonesia. Spicy colorful food stewed or fried and accompanied by sauces mostly comprise of the Cuisine of Indonesia.
Indonesia's culinary ties are linked to southeast Asian countries. It is strongly influenced by India. Cuisine near Buddhist or Hindu sites includes ingredients such as cumin, coriander, ginger, and caraway. The curries are highly spiced. Sauces are diluted with coconut milk and served with pieces of meat, fish and vegetables along with rice.
When the Arab traders converted Java from Hinduism to an Islamic state, they brought a change in the style of cooking as well. Kebabs, marinated meat cubes threaded on skewers, were rechristened to become satay. Dill and fennel entered the repertoire of spices.
Chinese merchants and traders added their own contributions to the kitchen. It is from them that Indonesian food discovered wok, stir-frying, the soybean and noodles. The Chinese brought along with them the mustard greens, mung beans, daikon radish and Chinese cabbage.
Foreign invasion added their bit to Indonesian cooking. Chili peppers from Mexico, Peanuts from the Americas, cassava from the Caribbean and sweet potatoes from South America were introduced.
Some famous Indonesian dishes include:
Gado Gado- A mixed vegetable and tofu salad. It has a spicy, sweet peanut dressing.
Ikan Pangang- This is a whole broiled fish with sauce and spicy marinades. A crushed stalk of lemon grass is used as a brush to baste the fish with a mixture of coconut, chili, ginger and lime.
Nasi Kuning- This is steamed rice cooked with onions, turmeric, cinnamon, coriander, and cumin. It is mainly prepared during festive occasions.
Sambal- This is the general term for an endless variety of relishes. Most of these have chiles, either dried or fresh, at their bases. Sambals can be cooked or raw, preserved or fresh, bought commercially or homemade. They accompany every meal in Indonesia with ingredients changing to complement the main dishes.
Satay- This is grilled meat on a skewer. Satay can be an appetizer, with a sauce for dipping. It can be an entire meal when served over rice.
Detailed online information on Cuisine of Indonesia can be obtained on travel.mapsofworld
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