Even if you barely know how to cook an egg, do not worry, you are covered. Besides reading all about Indonesian food, you will learn all the basic kitchen techniques, with numerous links to videos on YouTube. You will learn how to boil, fry and poach eggs, work with chicken, even learn how to cut it up yourself easily, make the perfect steaks each time from cheap cuts of meat. You will become a master of the stew. You will make people enjoy tofu, tempeh, and all kinds of vegetables. Working with fish will become a pleasure.But as if that is not enough, you will master a cuisine that might not be as familiar as say Thai or Chinese. That is a pity, because the Indonesian kitchen is a true gem. It is exotic but easy to get in your fingers, and flexible as well. All ingredients are relatively easy to get, so don't worry about that. In fact, you might have a few already in your cupboard: cumin, turmeric and maybe coriander (cilantro), a bottle of soy sauce, a can of coconut milk. To add some Indonesian satay to your barbecues is a welcome change. Moreover, you will learn how to make many new and exciting dips and condiments, that you can eat with almost any meal, Indonesian or not. There are delicious sauces based on sweet soy sauce, kecap manis, many peanut sauces, and all kinds of different flavors of chili pastes, Sambal, pickles and much more. Even if you would stop here, it would change the way you cook and eat!But we do not stop here. You will see how to work with all basic ingredients, and make your own dishes. To help you on your way, there are classic recipes for beef, chicken, eggs, tofu and tempeh, fish, shrimp, squid, and vegetables. There is even a recipe for Indonesian Meatloaf!We start with some background, where you can read why a Dutchman thinks he can write an Indonesian cookbook. Then you will get a tour around the Indonesian larder, so you get on speaking terms with all exotic ingredients. After this, we will dive in with some basic ways of handling food, like easy ways to peel onion, or keeping vegetables fresh. We will start making Indonesian condiments, pickles and sauces, cooking different kinds of rice, and then go on to the recipes of the classic dishes. They are broken down into chapters about the main ingredient, like beef, fish, tofu, or vegetables. Each chapter starts with explaining you the basic techniques of working with that ingredient, so you are all set to follow the recipes easily and be flexible with them, because you know what you are doing already. In the last chapter you get suggestions for Indonesian meals, big Rice Tables, small Rice Tables, one plate dishes, and an Indonesian barbecue.This is a unique book that will change the way you cook and eat, entertain and think about food. It is also fun to read. What is stopping you, just jump in!
