At one of the memasak sessions at Ibu Eli’s house, students learnt how to make two traditional Indonesian snacks. They were namely Tahi Isi and Bakwan Jagung. Both were simple to make, yet delicious fried snacks, that could be commonly found at any snack stall along the streets of Indonesia. The students had an enjoyable time cooking and learning about the origins of these snacks. Most importantly, they could not wait to taste the snacks they made!
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Gracious Ibu Eli teaching her mahasiswas how to make Tahu Isi and Bakwan Jagung. |
Enthusiastic mahasiswas trying out their hands at making the Indonesian snacks.
Tahu Isi, or fried stuffed tofu, is a light snack made from tofu and vegetables. First, the tofu is stuffed with a mixture of beansprouts, eggs, spring onions and carrots. It is then coated with flour and deep-fried till golden brown. The array of vegetables makes this dish a healthy yet tasty appetizer. This snack is usually eaten together with cabai hijau (green chilli padi) to add an extra tinge of spiciness to the dish.
Bakwan Jagung is also another popular Indonesian snack. It consists of a mixture of corn, carrots, spring onions, eggs and flour, deep fried to obtain a crispy, golden brown snack. The secret to making good Bakwan Jagung is to deep-fry it for just the right amount of time so that it becomes golden brown but not burnt. The ingredients for both snacks are relatively cheap and easy to obtain. These snacks serve as a testament to how Indonesians can take simple ingredients and turn them into something delicious.
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| A plate of crispy Bakwan Jagung prepared by the students |
The level of difficulty in preparing the snacks was very low and everyone enjoyed themselves while preparing the snacks. Some students could not believe that such delicious food could be made out of such simple ingredients. One of the students, Joan, said “The snacks are very easy to make and tastes delicious! I’ll definitely make them at home.”
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| Satisfied students with the snacks they made |
The memasak session allowed the students to experience cooking Indonesian food first-hand, as well as to learn more about the roots from where these snacks originated from. Overall, students all agreed that they had an enjoyable time and that the hospitality and patience of Ibu Eli really made them feel like part of a big family.