Everyone agrees that one of the keys to a delicious meal is the seasoning used. Especially if we talk about Indonesian cuisine, the typical Indonesian kitchen spice are the main secret.
Even in the past, many European traders sailed around the world and go to Indonesia in search of spices. This is because Indonesia has a suitable climate for the growth of popular spice-producing plants.
Call it one of the VOC (Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie), a Dutch trading partner in the past that sailed to Indonesia in search of spices, especially spices that can warm the body such as ginger, pepper, nutmeg and so on.
However, there are many kitchen ingredients in Indonesia with different functions and characters. Come on, get to know more about the various ingredients that must be typical of the archipelago to help perfect the taste of the dishes you have!
What is meant by spices and examples?
Spices are plants or plant parts that are aromatic in nature and are used in food with the main function of giving flavor. Spices are generally divided into two, namely wet spices (turmeric, ginger, kencur, and onions) and dry spices (cumin, pepper, Candlenut, and coriander).
18 of the most popular spices in the world
1. Shallots & Garlic
Shallots and garlic are arguably the most popular spices and are almost used as a base for many dishes in the world. In addition to providing a more savory taste, these two spices are often used because of their fragrant aroma when sautéed in cooking oil.
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| Besides being cooked with other culinary delights, shallots and garlic are often fried to make fried onions as a complement to dishes by sprinkling them on top of foods such as soup, fried rice, chicken porridge, and other foods. |
2. Onions
Apart from shallots and garlic, other popular spices that are included in the mandatory spices are onions. Onions are larger and rounder. Compared to shallots and garlic, onions have a less tangy but fragrant aroma.
Besides sauteed, onions are also commonly eaten fresh as a mixture of salads and can also be served as a snack onion rings by frying them in flour. Similar to shallots and white, onions have two variants that are distinguished by their color. Yellow onions and red onions.
3. Different Types of Chili
The next popular mandatory kitchen basic ingredient is chili. Because Indonesia is famous for its spicy culinary taste, there are many variants of this one kitchen spice with different levels.
To get the highest level of spiciness, you can try using bird's eye chilies and bird's chilies, while curly chilies can be a spicy taste but not as sharp as bird's eye chilies. Usually this compulsory kitchen spice is processed by pounding and mashing in Indonesian dishes.
However, in more modern dishes, chilies are generally only sliced before being used for cooking. Apart from being used fresh, chilies can also be dried.
4. Pepper
Pepper, also known as pepper, is a kitchen spice that has a spicy and slightly bitter taste. Pepper or pepper is usually a part of typical Indonesian dishes such as fried chicken seasoning, soup, and various other dishes.
This kitchen spice is also available in powder form to be used as a complement to your meals. You can sprinkle this powdered pepper into various foods such as noodles, soup, and others.
5. Ginger
Besides being famous as a basic ingredient for cooking, this kitchen spice is also often used as medicine.
Ginger has a spicy taste and is commonly used for coconut milk and stir fry dishes. Apart from cooking, ginger is also often used as an ingredient in making hot drinks such as ginger drink.
6. Galangal
At first glance, this spice looks like ginger, but galangal has a different taste and function. Galangal is generally used for cooking coconut milk, tamarind vegetables, and various stir-fry dishes.
Galangal has a more fragrant aroma and a bitter taste and the acidity of spices. In several regions in Indonesia, this kitchen spice is also known as Laos.
7. Lemongrass
The next kitchen spice has a function to give your cooking aroma. Shaped like thatch grass, lemongrass or lemongrass, it is used by slicing or bruising the stump. Apart from food, lemongrass can also be used as an ingredient in traditional drinks.
8. Turmeric
If you often enjoy culinary delights such as opor and yellowish curries, this is the spice that has a role in giving that color. This one spice is not only used to give color but also to remove unpleasant aromas from food ingredients in the form of beef, chicken, or fish.
In addition, this kitchen spice is also a basic ingredient that is often used in making traditional herbal medicine.
9. Bay Leaves
If most of the previous kitchen spices were tubers, the next kitchen spices were leaves. Bay leaves have the function of providing a distinctive aroma in dishes such as lodeh, opor, and various other dishes that use coconut milk.
In addition, bay leaves can also help you get rid of unpleasant aromas from seafood dishes. Therefore, bay leaves are often one of the complementary ingredients for grilled fish or fish pepes.
10. Lime leaves
Apart from bay leaves, lime leaves are also often used as a spice in the kitchen to give dishes a more delicious aroma.
Lime leaves which are often used as a spice in the kitchen are kaffir lime. As with bay leaves, lime leaves are usually sliced or shredded before sautéing or cooking with other herbs.
11. Coriander
Even though it comes from mainland South Europe, this spice is a kitchen spice that is quite popularly used in various traditional dishes in Indonesia.
Ketumber-shaped seeds are usually crushed or crushed before being used to give the dish a pleasant and delicate aroma.
12. Cinnamon
Another basic kitchen spice is cinnamon which is actually the bark obtained from several types of Cinnamomum tree species.
Besides giving a sweet aroma, this kitchen spice also gives a fresh taste to dishes. In addition to cooking dishes, this basic ingredient is often a complement to ingredients for making drinks and cakes.
13. Candlenut
The next kitchen spice is candlenut which is also known as a hair fertilizer. Before being used Candlenut seeds are roasted or sauteed in oil first before being mixed into cooking to thicken dishes and also give the dish a savory taste.
14. Tamarind
As the name implies, this kitchen spice has the function of giving a fresh sour taste to dishes. Tamarind is commonly used in tamarind vegetables and also in hodgepodge to give it a fresher taste.
15. Star anise (flower of lawang)
If you want to give your dishes a delicious aroma, this kitchen spice can be a complementary choice for your cooking spices. Also known as the lawang flower or "pekak", this basic ingredient is not only famous as a complement to spices in Indonesian cuisine but also in various other countries in Asia.
However, keep in mind that the taste of this kitchen spice is bitter, so use it according to the amount so as not to damage the original taste of the culinary you are cooking.
16. Nutmeg
Nutmeg is a kitchen spice that has a taste similar to pepper but with a more delicious aroma. This kitchen spice originates from the islands around Maluku and is often used in soup dishes. Due to its very strong taste and aroma, its use must be very measured.
17. Cardamom
The next basic kitchen ingredient is cardamom, which is a natural flavoring that is usually found in various typical Padang culinary delights. Cardamom is also often found as an ingredient in herbal medicine because it has various health properties such as analgesic benefits and is also good for nourishing bones.
18. Cloves
The last basic kitchen spice is cloves, which is a native Indonesian spice which is very popular for its properties to give a more delicious aroma and taste to dishes. Because many like the aroma, clove extract oil is often an additional ingredient in making perfume, you know.
This kitchen spice is commonly used for soup dishes and is popularly used in Indian and Middle Eastern dishes. Those are various basic kitchen spices that are often found and used in Indonesian anf world dishes.
By understanding the function and character of each spice, it will certainly be easier to serve a variety of delicious dishes.