Sayur Asem (Indonesian Tamarind Vegetable Soup)
This vegetable soup is a must-have item on the menu of every West Java (Sundanese) restaurant in Indonesia. This soup has some kind of appetizing effect because of the use of tamarind or (dried) sour starfuit as one of the ingredients. Sayur asem is a compliment to main dish such as ayam Ayam Goreng Kuning, Pepes Ikan or fried salty fish.
Total Time
10 minutes
Servings
4
1 fresh red chile pepper
2 shallots
2 g terasi
½ tbsp salt
20 g fresh tamarind or asam jawa tamarind paste, or 5 dried bilimbi fruit
105 g galangal
2 salam leaves
100 g yardlong beans
1 chayote squash
50 g corn
100 g young jackfuit
50 g gnetum (melinjo/belinjau) leaves and fruits
50 g raw peanuts
Salt
Sugar
Grind together all the ingredients for the spice paste until smooth.
Clean the vegetables, and cut into bite-size pieces.
Bring 1.2 liters of water to a boil in a pot. Stir in the spice paste, tamarind, galangal, and salam leaves.
Gradually add the vegetables, starting with those that require a longer cooking time.
Season with salt and sugar to taste.