Indonesia is located in southeastern Asia, straddling the equator and bordering Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Malaysia, and it is the largest archipelagic country in the world, consisting of tens of thousands of islands. It is also known as the "Land of a Thousand Islands".
The islands are surrounded by green hills and water, and have four seasons of summer, making it the "Emerald on the Equator".
Indonesia is located in the tropics, spanning Asia and Oceania, and is the country with the largest number of islands in the world. With more than 6,000 inhabited islands and over 1,300 ethnic groups, Indonesia is a country with a diverse and rich culinary tradition.
When you think of Indonesia, words like tropical scenery and bohemian atmosphere may come to mind. Well, Indonesia's food is also one of the best, whether it is the delicious and fragrant Kopi Luwak coffee, cocoa, black tea, or the spicy roasted chicken liver stew and fried lamb chops, which will make your mouth water.
Indonesia is rich in spices.
Common spices such as nutmeg, cloves, vanilla, and galangal all come from here. The famous "Spice Islands" or the Maluku Islands are located in the eastern part of Indonesia, which is the origin of most of the above spices.
With its central location, Indonesia introduced various spices from China and India a long time ago, and after the age of navigation, chilli peppers from America took root here, further enriching Indonesia's spice culture.
Kue Lumpang Pandan or Kue Ijo is a traditional Indonesian snack made from glutinous rice flour and pandan leaves. It is a sweet and chewy dessert that is often served during special occasions such as weddings or festivals.
Here's a recipe for Kue Lumpang Pandan or Kue IJo:
Ingredients:
500 grams of glutinous rice flour
600 ml of water
200 grams of granulated sugar
1/2 tsp of salt
10 pandan leaves, tied into a knot
Green food coloring (optional)
Grated coconut for topping
Instructions:
1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the glutinous rice flour, granulated sugar, and salt. Mix well.
2. In a small pot, boil the water and pandan leaves until the water turns green and fragrant.
3. Remove the pandan leaves and pour the pandan water into the mixing bowl with the flour mixture. Mix well until the mixture is smooth and has no lumps.
4. Add a few drops of green food coloring (optional) and mix well until the desired color is achieved.
5. Prepare a steamer and bring the water to a boil.
6. Grease the Kue Lumpang molds with a little bit of oil to prevent the dough from sticking.
7. Pour the dough into the molds until they are 2/3 full.
8. Steam the molds for about 15-20 minutes or until the Kue is cooked through.
9. Remove the Kue from the molds and let them cool.
10. Once the Kue is cool, roll them in grated coconut until they are well coated.
Serve the Kue Lumpang Pandan or Kue IJo as a snack or dessert.
Enjoy your delicious Kue Lumpang Pandan or Kue IJo!
