Interesting Facts About Rendang Food Originating from Minangkabau, Indonesia
Who doesn't like rendang? The thick dark brown spice dressing is very delicious combined with warm rice. Rendang comes from Minangkabau and has interesting facts.
Rendang is a traditional Minangkabau dish, West Sumatra, Indonesia. This dish is well known throughout the archipelago, even abroad.
Indonesia is a country that has a wide variety of cultures from Sabang to Merauke. Indonesia is not only known for its culture, but also for the various types of traditional foods that are owned by each region in Indonesia.
In each region, the food dishes have their distinctive taste and aroma. One of them is a traditional food called rendang from West Sumatra.
Rendang is a dish made from processed meat, cooked with spices originating from Minangkabau. Rendang uses natural spices because they can act as an antiseptic and can kill pathogenic bacteria so that they can be used as a natural preservative.
No wonder rendang can last one week to four weeks. Because it contains many types of spices, rendang is a food that has a unique taste and is popular with many people. Two types of rendang are generally known, namely as follows:
Dry Rendang
Dry rendang is true rendang in the tradition of cooking Minangkabau. This rendang is cooked for a long time until the coconut milk dries up and the spices are absorbed perfectly. Usually, dry rendang is served for special events, such as traditional ceremonies, festivals, or welcoming a guest of honor.
Dry rendang is darker brown. If cooked properly, dry rendang can last for three to four weeks at room temperature, and if stored in the refrigerator it can last for about a month.
Wet Rendang or Kalio
Wet rendang or better known as Kalio, is a rendang that is cooked in a shorter time. The coconut milk is left not completely dry so that it has a little spice.
Wet rendang has a light golden brown color and is paler. If kept at room temperature it should last for less than a week.
Rendang is a very popular food in Indonesia. The existence of rendang food has become an icon for the people of Padang. Usually, rendang is used as the main dish for food.
Not only in Indonesia, but now rendang is well known abroad, many like rendang because it has its charm, such as its rich taste, unique processing method, and seductive appearance.
Rendang can also be found in various other Southeast Asian countries, such as Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, the Philippines, and Thailand.
In 2011, rendang was selected as the most delicious food in the world which was ranked first in CNN International's version of the World's 50 Most Delicious Foods. And on July 12, 2017, CNN again released the 50 most delicious foods in the world, and rendang remains in the first position for the most delicious food in the world.
This data was obtained from 35,000 votes on Facebook social media conducted by CNN, and the result was that rendang returned to first place. In 2018, rendang was officially designated as one of Indonesia's five national culinary delights.