Pindang Bandeng: A Delightful Indonesian Fish Dish
Pindang Bandeng is a flavorful and aromatic dish that showcases the beloved Indonesian milkfish, known as ikan bandeng. This recipe is perfect for those who appreciate fresh ingredients and a touch of traditional cooking techniques. Let’s dive into the delightful preparation of this dish, ensuring that every bite is a testament to its rich flavors.
Ingredients
To prepare this scrumptious Pindang Bandeng, you will need the following ingredients:
- 2 kg fresh ikan bandeng (milkfish, preferably from the market)
- 10 shallots (bawang merah)
- 4 cloves of garlic (bawang putih)
- 2 stalks of lemongrass (sereh)
- 3 cm galangal (lengkuas)
- 3 cm ginger (jahe)
- 5 bay leaves (daun salam)
- 10 tablespoons sweet soy sauce (kecap manis, adjust to taste)
- 3 tablespoons thick tamarind water (air asam jawa kental)
- 1 teaspoon salt (garam)
- 3 teaspoons sugar (gula pasir)
- 7 red chili peppers (rawit merah)
- 1 tomato (tomat)
- 2 limes (jeruk nipis, for marinating the fish)
Instructions
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Prepare the Fish: Begin by cutting the fresh ikan bandeng into four pieces. Rinse the fish thoroughly under cold water to ensure it is clean. Next, rub the pieces with lime juice and sprinkle with salt. Set aside to marinate briefly, allowing the flavors to infuse.
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Prepare the Aromatics: In a mixing bowl, combine the shallots, garlic, lemongrass, galangal, and ginger. Use a mortar and pestle or a food processor to crush these aromatics gently. This step is crucial as it releases the essential oils and flavors that will enhance the dish.
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Cook the Fish: In a pressure cooker, add water and the crushed aromatics along with the bay leaves. Once everything is in the pot, adjust the seasoning to your taste with salt and sugar. Carefully place the marinated bandeng pieces into the pot, ensuring they are submerged in the flavorful broth. It’s important to note that the tomato and chili peppers will be added later, after cooking.
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Pressure Cooking: Seal the pressure cooker and cook on high until it reaches a steady pressure. Depending on your pressure cooker, this process may take about 2 hours from the moment it begins to steam. The long cooking time ensures the bones become tender, making the fish easy to enjoy.
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Final Touches: Once the cooking time is complete, release the pressure carefully. At this stage, add the chopped tomato and red chili peppers to the pot. Allow them to warm through, absorbing the flavors without overcooking.
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Serving: Your Pindang Bandeng is now ready to be served! The dish can be enjoyed hot with steamed rice, allowing the delicious sauce to soak into the grains, enhancing each bite.
Cooking Tips
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Adjusting Sweetness: The amount of sweet soy sauce can be tailored to your preference. If you enjoy a sweeter flavor, feel free to add more.
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Cooking Without Pressure: If you don’t have a pressure cooker, simply simmer the fish until the flavors have penetrated deeply, which can be indicated by the fish taking on a darker color due to the soy sauce.
Enjoy Your Meal!
This Pindang Bandeng recipe is not only a treat for the taste buds but also a wonderful way to connect with Indonesian culinary traditions. Happy cooking, and selamat mencoba! 😊
