Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Babat Bumbu Serai Pedas (Indonesian Spicy Tripe With Lemon Grass )
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
Ikan Goreng Bumbu Balado ( Indonesian Balado Spicy Fried Fish)
Lidah Kuah Asam (Indonesian Spicy Beef Tounge in Sour Sauce)
Monday, May 4, 2015
Indonesian Hot and Sour Duck (Bebek Asam Pedas)
Indonesian Glazed Meatballs
I so wanted to call these ‘keigoeie ballen’ (that’s Dutch to you, I know), or perhaps even ‘awesome sauce’. Bottomline: these are the real deal. So crazy good that the guys continue to fight over who gets the last meatball. Silly men. Me, of course.
Here’s how it started: a couple of weeks ago I ran into Lonny Gerungan’s Kecap sauce during grocery shopping, and on a whim I decided to buy a bottle—I generally have a hard & fast rule not to buy prefab stuff, but this was Lonny, man!
I found his meatball recipe online in which he used mashed potatoes instead of breadcrumbs. Suffice to say this peaked my interest. Wow, holy cow. Hands down the best structure, ever. I’ve been religiously making meatballs using mashed potatoes ever since.
But back to the here and now: this is Kayotic Kitchen. I can’t get away with: ‘Oh, just buy a bottle of sauce, toss it in after the meatballs are done and call it a day!’. I envisioned an angry mob gathering in front of my house carrying pitchforks and torches and that was enough to send me straight back into the kitchen.
Tried several versions, but it wasn’t until I tasted this one that I could barely contain myself and yelled “Nailed it!”. For the meatballs I used the spice mix from my Dutch meatballs & gravy recipe, sans the mustard.
These meatballs are fluffy and tasty and the sauce covering them is nothing short of heavenly.
Ingredients:
Meatballs:
21oz/600gr ground meat (I used half pork/half beef)
5.2oz/150gr mashed potatoes (preferably salt-free)
1 or 2 tsp sambal badjak (or another sambal)
2 tbsp sweet soy sauce
1 large egg
1/2 tsp white pepper
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tbsp ground nutmeg (or a really good pinch freshly grated)
1 tsp ground coriander
Kecap Sauce:
1 small onion
1 red chili pepper
2 garlic cloves
1” ginger, grated
1 tsp ground coriander
1/4 tsp trassi bakar
2 tbsp gula djawa
4 tbsp sweet soy sauce (kecap)
1 cup beef broth
1 tbsp corn starch mixed with 2 tbsp water
2 tbsp peanut oil
salt & pepper
Directions:
Finely mince the onion and chili pepper. Remove the seeds or leave them in for more zing. Grate the ginger and mince the garlic.
We start by making the bumbu (wet spice mix). I use my tjobek for this but you can also use your immersion blender or food processor.
Add the trassi bakar and ground coriander to the chopped ingredients. Trassi is quite important here for it will give the dish its characteristic Indonesian flavour. I strongly suggest you do not omit it, as offensive as it may smell uncooked.
Mash until it’s a puree and the flavours are blended nicely.
Get your beef broth ready. I prefer to use liquid gula djawa in sauces these days. Use about 1 oz/25 to 30gr if you use a solid piece of palm sugar.
Heat the oil (this should be a neutral flavoured oil), and sauté the bumbu over low to medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes while stirring often.
Pour in the 2 tbsp gula djawa.
And the 4 tbsp kecap. I use ABC kecap, it’s sickening sweet and sticky but it works.
It’ll be a dark brown gooey and sugary substance. Let it simmer for 30 to 60 seconds.
Pour in the beef broth.
Bring it to a boil, temper the heat and let it gently simmer for 5 minutes.
Bit by bit you pour in the cornstarch mixed with water. Let the sauce cook for 1 more minute then turn off the heat. Season the sauce with salt & pepper to taste and set it aside.
Laugh all you want but I use my standmixer to mix my ground beef. Works like a charm and keeps my hands clean for my camera.
Done laughing yet?
Then it dawned on me that I didn’t take photos of adding the salt, pepper and nutmeg. Imagine them there, okay? Anyway, add those and top them off with the mashed taters, sambal and ground coriander.
Pour in the 2 tbsp kecap. Indonesian dishes are often quite sweet. Probably why my son loves it so much.
Knead the mix well. See, my hands are still clean… what about yours?
I used my size 12 ice scoop (love that one for meatballs) and got 8 meatballs out of it.
You can cook them on the stove top in some oil or butter, but I decided to bake them in the oven on top of a grilling rack. I gave them 25 minutes at 200Cº (400Fº). If you make larger meatballs they’ll obviously need more cooking time.
As soon as the meatballs are done you transfer the sauce to a bigger pan, heat it and just drop those balls in there.
Drop ’em all! Getting hungry all over again seeing this.
Oh, how I love those darn meatballs.
Roll them around in the sauce. Shake them. Make ‘em do flip-flops for all I care, just make sure they’re all covered in sauce. Simmer them for a minute or 3.
Who’s laughing now, huh?
Best served with steamed rice, stir-fried paksoi and acar ketimun.
21oz/600gr ground meat (I used half pork/half beef)
5.2oz/150gr mashed potatoes (preferably salt-free)
1 or 2 tsp sambal badjak (or another sambal)
2 tbsp sweet soy sauce
1 large egg
1/2 tsp white pepper
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tbsp ground nutmeg (or a really good pinch freshly grated)
1 tsp ground coriander
Kecap Sauce:
1 small onion
1 red chili pepper
2 garlic cloves
1” ginger, grated
1 tsp ground coriander
1/4 tsp trassi bakar
2 tbsp gula djawa
4 tbsp sweet soy sauce (kecap)
1 cup beef broth
1 tbsp corn starch mixed with 2 tbsp water
2 tbsp peanut oil
salt & pepper
Get your beef broth ready. I prefer to use liquid gula djawa these days. Use about 1 oz/25 to 30gr if you use a solid piece of palm sugar. Heat the oil (this should be a neutral flavoured oil), and sauté the bumbu over low to medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes white stirring often. Pour in the gula djawa and kecap and let it simmer for 30 to 60 seconds before adding the beef broth. Bring it to a boil, temper the heat and let it gently simmer for 5 minutes. Thicken the sauxe with cornstarch and season with salt & pepper to taste.
Combine all ingredients listed under Meatballs and knead well. I used my size 12 ice scoop and got 8 meatballs out of it. You can cook them on the stove top in some oil or butter but I decided to bake them in the oven on top of a grilling rack. I gave them 25 minutes at 200Cº (400Fº). soon as the meatballs are done you transfer the sauce to a bigger pan, heat it and just drop those balls in there. Let it simmer for a few minutes.
Serve with steamed rice, stor-fried paksoi and acar ketimun.

Sunday, May 3, 2015
Gulai Kikil ( Indonesian Cow's Foot Curry )
Pakis Tumis Udang dan Daun Jeruk ( Indonesian Stir Fried Fern Vegetables with Shrimp and Lime Leaves)
Exotic Indonesian Recipe : Pepes Tahu (Steamed Tofu Wrapped in Banana Leaves)
Saturday, May 2, 2015
Ikan Bakar Kecap ( Grilled Fish Sauted with Indonesian Ketcup - Sweet Soy Sauce)
Indonesian Potato Croquettes
Or Kroket Kentang, as they’re officially called. Kroketten are the best snacks in the world.
I adored these as a little girl; the crunchy exterior forms a wonderful contrast against the fluffy mashed potatoes, and then you hit the jackpot and taste that slightly sweet, salty and savoury beef that brings everything together.
Unfortunately, this was one of the rare Indonesian recipes that neither my mom nor grandmother made. So when I was given Nombelina’s beautiful blog for the food blog swap—and boy do I love her recipes—I jumped at the chance of making these beauties.
I know, they take some time to make, but because they can be eaten warm as well as luke-warm and even cold, you’ll never forgive yourself if you don’t try these crazy good snacks for a hit at your next potluck!
You’ll be the star of the day, I promise.
Ingredients:
Potato Mash:
1 1/2 pound potatoes
1 lightly beaten egg
pinch of nutmeg
1/8 tsp white pepper
salt to taste
Meat Filling:
9oz/250gr ground beef/pork
1 small onion
1 large garlic clove
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 beef bouillon cube
1 tbsp kecap (sweet soy sauce)
Optional: dried chill flakes
Coating:
2 large eggs
1 to 1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 to 2 cups breadcrumbs (I used Panko)
+ oil for deep-frying (canola or peanut oil)
Directions:
Peel your potatoes and boil them in slightly salted water for 25 minutes. Until completely tender.
I prefer to salt the water but you can also season them after they’re boiled.
Lightly beat the egg.
Drain the potatoes and sprinkle in the nutmeg and white pepper. Start mashing, we want a creamy, lump-free mash so work it! Or something like that.
Let the potatoes cool off a little before you add the egg. We don’t need scrambled eggs in our mashed potatoes.
Stir in the egg. This will make it rich, creamy, and a heck of a lot easier to work with.
Just leave it be for a while.
Chop the onion. Heat a little butter and sauté the onion (I threw in a few chill flakes) until it turns soft. Add the garlic and cook for another minute.
Add your beef/pork mix and break it up with a spatula. Cook until it loses its pinkness.
Crumble in a bouillon cube ( my addition), the 1/4 tsp black pepper and nutmeg and pour in the kecap. Let it simmer for a minute or three and let the mix cool off.
If you don’t have kecap on hand you can also add a drop of soy sauce and some brown sugar.
Use 3 shallow plates and fill them with flour, lightly beaten eggs and breadcrumbs.
Grab about a 2 tbsp mashed potatoes, flatten it a bit, place a tbsp of the meat mixture smack-dab in the center, gently fold the mashed potatoes around the meat.
These croquettes are generally quite large, but I agree with PJ; they’re easier to eat when they’re smaller. You can also turn them into the standard log shape our kroketten usually have.
Roll the kroket around in the flour and shake off the excess flour, do the same with the egg and panko.
If the kroket loses its shape after being beaten and rolled around in stuff, just gently form it into a ball again.
I like a serious crust on my kroket so I repeat the egg wash and panko process.
Keep doing that until you run out of mashed potatoes or meat. Or both, if you’ve stolen bites, as I did.
Cover the kroketten with plastic wrap and place them in the fridge for at least 2 hours. Preferably overnight.
I used my deep-fryer for this. It’s just a heck of a lot easier, but you can do this in virtually any pan with a thick bottom.
Deep-fry the kroketten (and don’t overcrowd the pan) at 355Fº/180Cº for 4 to 5 minutes.
Until beautifully golden brown and crunchy on the outside.
I so loved making this recipe! Thanks for taking me down memory lane, girl!
1 1/2 pound potatoes
1 lightly beaten egg
pinch of nutmeg
1/8 tsp white pepper
salt
Meat Filling:
9oz/250gr ground beef/pork
1 small onion
1 large garlic clove
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 beef bouillon cube
1 tbsp kecap (sweet soy sauce)
Optional: dried chill flakes
Coating:
2 eggs
1 to 1 1/2 to 2 cups flour
1 1/2 to 2 cups breadcrumbs (I used Panko)
+ oil for deep-frying (canola or peanut oil)
Peel your potatoes and boil them in slightly salted water for 25 minutes. Until completely tender. Lightly beat the egg. Drain the potatoes and sprinkle in the nutmeg and white pepper. Mash them very well and let them cool off a little before you stir in the egg.Chop the onion. Heat a little butter and sauté the onion (I threw in a few chill flakes) until it turns soft. Add the garlic and cook for another minute. Add your beef/pork mix and break it up with a spatula. Cook until it loses its pinkness. Crumble in a bouillon cube, add the 1/4 tsp black pepper and nutmeg and pour in the kecap. Let it simmer for a minute or three and let the mix cool off.
,br>
Use 3 shallow plates and fill them with flour, lightly beaten eggs and breadcrumbs. Grab about a 2 tbsp mashed potatoes, flatten it a bit, place a tbsp of the meat mixture smack-dab in the center, gently fold the mashed potatoes around the meat. Roll the kroket around in the flour and shake off the excess flour, do the same with the egg and panko. Repeat the egg wash and breadcrumbs process for an extra crunchy exterior.
Cover the kroketten with plastic wrap and place them in the fridge for at least 2 hours. Preferably overnight. Use your deep-fryer or a pan with a thick bottom and deep-fry the kroketten (and don’t overcrowd the pan) at 355Fº/180Cº for 4 to 5 minutes.

Indonesian Grilled Pomfret With Tomato Sauce (Bawal Bakar Saus Tomat)
Thursday, April 30, 2015
Indonesian Glazed Meatballs
AppId is over the quota
I so wanted to call these ‘keigoeie ballen’ (that’s Dutch to you, I know), or perhaps even ‘awesome sauce’. Bottomline: these are the real deal. So crazy good that the guys continue to fight over who gets the last meatball. Silly men. Me, of course.
Here’s how it started: a couple of weeks ago I ran into Lonny Gerungan’s Kecap sauce during grocery shopping, and on a whim I decided to buy a bottle—I generally have a hard & fast rule not to buy prefab stuff, but this was Lonny, man!
I found his meatball recipe online in which he used mashed potatoes instead of breadcrumbs. Suffice to say this peaked my interest. Wow, holy cow. Hands down the best structure, ever. I’ve been religiously making meatballs using mashed potatoes ever since.
But back to the here and now: this is Kayotic Kitchen. I can’t get away with: ‘Oh, just buy a bottle of sauce, toss it in after the meatballs are done and call it a day!’. I envisioned an angry mob gathering in front of my house carrying pitchforks and torches and that was enough to send me straight back into the kitchen.
Tried several versions, but it wasn’t until I tasted this one that I could barely contain myself and yelled “Nailed it!”. For the meatballs I used the spice mix from my Dutch meatballs & gravy recipe, sans the mustard.
These meatballs are fluffy and tasty and the sauce covering them is nothing short of heavenly.
Ingredients:
Meatballs:
21oz/600gr ground meat (I used half pork/half beef)
5.2oz/150gr mashed potatoes (preferably salt-free)
1 or 2 tsp sambal badjak (or another sambal)
2 tbsp sweet soy sauce
1 large egg
1/2 tsp white pepper
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tbsp ground nutmeg (or a really good pinch freshly grated)
1 tsp ground coriander
Kecap Sauce:
1 small onion
1 red chili pepper
2 garlic cloves
1” ginger, grated
1 tsp ground coriander
1/4 tsp trassi bakar
2 tbsp gula djawa
4 tbsp sweet soy sauce (kecap)
1 cup beef broth
1 tbsp corn starch mixed with 2 tbsp water
2 tbsp peanut oil
salt & pepper
Directions:
Finely mince the onion and chili pepper. Remove the seeds or leave them in for more zing. Grate the ginger and mince the garlic.
We start by making the bumbu (wet spice mix). I use my tjobek for this but you can also use your immersion blender or food processor.
Add the trassi bakar and ground coriander to the chopped ingredients. Trassi is quite important here for it will give the dish its characteristic Indonesian flavour. I strongly suggest you do not omit it, as offensive as it may smell uncooked.
Mash until it’s a puree and the flavours are blended nicely.
Get your beef broth ready. I prefer to use liquid gula djawa in sauces these days. Use about 1 oz/25 to 30gr if you use a solid piece of palm sugar.
Heat the oil (this should be a neutral flavoured oil), and sauté the bumbu over low to medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes while stirring often.
Pour in the 2 tbsp gula djawa.
And the 4 tbsp kecap. I use ABC kecap, it’s sickening sweet and sticky but it works.
It’ll be a dark brown gooey and sugary substance. Let it simmer for 30 to 60 seconds.
Pour in the beef broth.
Bring it to a boil, temper the heat and let it gently simmer for 5 minutes.
Bit by bit you pour in the cornstarch mixed with water. Let the sauce cook for 1 more minute then turn off the heat. Season the sauce with salt & pepper to taste and set it aside.
Laugh all you want but I use my standmixer to mix my ground beef. Works like a charm and keeps my hands clean for my camera.
Done laughing yet?
Then it dawned on me that I didn’t take photos of adding the salt, pepper and nutmeg. Imagine them there, okay? Anyway, add those and top them off with the mashed taters, sambal and ground coriander.
Pour in the 2 tbsp kecap. Indonesian dishes are often quite sweet. Probably why my son loves it so much.
Knead the mix well. See, my hands are still clean… what about yours?
I used my size 12 ice scoop (love that one for meatballs) and got 8 meatballs out of it.
You can cook them on the stove top in some oil or butter, but I decided to bake them in the oven on top of a grilling rack. I gave them 25 minutes at 200Cº (400Fº). If you make larger meatballs they’ll obviously need more cooking time.
As soon as the meatballs are done you transfer the sauce to a bigger pan, heat it and just drop those balls in there.
Drop ’em all! Getting hungry all over again seeing this.
Oh, how I love those darn meatballs.
Roll them around in the sauce. Shake them. Make ‘em do flip-flops for all I care, just make sure they’re all covered in sauce. Simmer them for a minute or 3.
Who’s laughing now, huh?
Best served with steamed rice, stir-fried paksoi and acar ketimun.
21oz/600gr ground meat (I used half pork/half beef)
5.2oz/150gr mashed potatoes (preferably salt-free)
1 or 2 tsp sambal badjak (or another sambal)
2 tbsp sweet soy sauce
1 large egg
1/2 tsp white pepper
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tbsp ground nutmeg (or a really good pinch freshly grated)
1 tsp ground coriander
Kecap Sauce:
1 small onion
1 red chili pepper
2 garlic cloves
1” ginger, grated
1 tsp ground coriander
1/4 tsp trassi bakar
2 tbsp gula djawa
4 tbsp sweet soy sauce (kecap)
1 cup beef broth
1 tbsp corn starch mixed with 2 tbsp water
2 tbsp peanut oil
salt & pepper
Get your beef broth ready. I prefer to use liquid gula djawa these days. Use about 1 oz/25 to 30gr if you use a solid piece of palm sugar. Heat the oil (this should be a neutral flavoured oil), and sauté the bumbu over low to medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes white stirring often. Pour in the gula djawa and kecap and let it simmer for 30 to 60 seconds before adding the beef broth. Bring it to a boil, temper the heat and let it gently simmer for 5 minutes. Thicken the sauxe with cornstarch and season with salt & pepper to taste.
Combine all ingredients listed under Meatballs and knead well. I used my size 12 ice scoop and got 8 meatballs out of it. You can cook them on the stove top in some oil or butter but I decided to bake them in the oven on top of a grilling rack. I gave them 25 minutes at 200Cº (400Fº). soon as the meatballs are done you transfer the sauce to a bigger pan, heat it and just drop those balls in there. Let it simmer for a few minutes.
Serve with steamed rice, stor-fried paksoi and acar ketimun.
