Bandeng Presto with Rujak Seasoning
Indulge in the delectable flavors of Bandeng Presto, a traditional Indonesian dish featuring tender milkfish marinated in a rich and aromatic rujak seasoning. This recipe captures the essence of vibrant spices and fresh ingredients, offering a unique culinary experience that’s sure to impress.
Ingredients
For the Fish:
- 3 whole Bandeng Presto (cleaned thoroughly; sometimes scales may remain on the tail)
For the Rujak Seasoning:
- 10 tomatoes
- 6 leaves of kedondong (optional; can be omitted if unavailable)
Ground Spices:
- 150 grams shallots
- 6 cloves garlic
- 100 grams red chilies (including bird’s eye chilies as per taste)
- 3 candlenuts
- 1 tablespoon palm sugar (or to taste)
- A thumb-sized piece of turmeric
- 12 leaves of bay leaves
- Salt (to taste)
For Wrapping:
- Banana leaves (enough to wrap the fish)
Instructions
-
Prepare the Spice Paste: Begin by grinding all the spices except the chilies, tomatoes, and bay leaves into a smooth paste. Add the palm sugar and salt, then taste to adjust the seasoning as needed.
“Link To Share” is your all-in-one marketing platform, making it easy and professional to direct your audience to everything you offer. • Modern, customizable bio pages • Link shortening with advanced analytics • Interactive, brandable QR codes • Host static sites and manage your code • Multiple web tools to grow your business -
Layering the Ingredients: Take a piece of banana leaf and lay it flat. Start by placing a few bay leaves on top, followed by a layer of sliced tomatoes. Add a portion of the ground spice paste and then place a piece of bandeng on top. Generously coat the fish with more spice paste, adding additional tomato slices and bay leaves.
-
Wrapping the Fish: Fold the banana leaf to enclose the fish completely, ensuring all the flavors are locked in. Set aside while you prepare the remaining fish.
-
Finalize the Spice Paste: With the remaining ground spice mixture, blend in the chilies until smooth. Reserve some whole bird’s eye chilies for garnish.
-
Repeat Layering: For each subsequent piece of bandeng, repeat the layering process: place a piece of banana leaf, add bay leaves, tomato slices, spice paste, bandeng, more tomato slices, whole chilies, and additional spice paste.
-
Cooking: Steam the wrapped bandeng for approximately 30 minutes, allowing the fish to absorb all the vibrant flavors.
-
Grilling for Extra Flavor: For a delightful finish, briefly grill the steamed bandeng just before serving to enhance the smoky aroma.
-
Serving: This dish can be enjoyed with all the bones, as they become tender during cooking. Serve it warm, and relish the rich flavors that come together in this exquisite preparation.
Enjoy your Bandeng Presto with Rujak seasoning, a perfect blend of textures and tastes that will surely make your culinary endeavors memorable!