The Food of Indonesia
SynopsisPlot
The fabled Spice Islands of Indonesia encompass the most astonishing physical and cultural diversity in Asia. The Food of Indonesia introduces a sampling of the most popular Indonesian food from across the archipelago. Included in this unique collection are spicy Padang favorites from West Sumatra, healthy Javanese vegetable creations, succulent satay and poultry dishes from Bali and Lombok, and unusual recipes from Kalimantan and the eastern isles of Flores and Timor. In addition to the range of exciting recipes, this book acquaints readers with Indonesia's varied cultural and culinary traditions.
Story
About this book
The Food of Indonesia by Heinz Von Holzen is a cookbook presenting 79 recipes drawn from across the Indonesian archipelago. The collection spans regional traditions from several major islands and smaller eastern territories. Dishes include spicy Padang-style food from West Sumatra, vegetable preparations rooted in Javanese cooking, and satay and poultry recipes associated with Bali and Lombok. The book also features less commonly published recipes from Kalimantan, Flores, and Timor.
Indonesia stretches across thousands of islands between the Indian and Pacific oceans, and its cooking reflects that geographic range. The book pairs its recipes with descriptions of ingredients and cooking methods intended to make the dishes accessible outside Indonesia. Each recipe includes enough detail for a home cook to work through unfamiliar spice combinations and techniques. Beyond the recipes themselves, the book provides background on the cultural traditions that shape how food is prepared and eaten in different parts of the country.
Von Holzen organized the collection to represent both well-known Indonesian dishes and regional specialties that receive less attention in English-language cookbooks. The inclusion of recipes from Flores and Timor points toward the culinary variety found in Indonesia's eastern islands, areas often overlooked in broader surveys of Southeast Asian food.
