Delicious and Authentic Indonesian Lontong Sayur Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 packs of instant lontong (Rice Cake)
  • 1 can of coconut milk (400ml)
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 lemongrass, bruised
  • 1 teaspoon of salt
  • 1 teaspoon of sugar
  • 200 grams of chayote, cut into small pieces
  • 100 grams of long beans, cut into 2cm lengths
  • 2 hard-boiled eggs
  • For the spice paste:
    • 3 shallots
    • 2 cloves of garlic
    • 3 red chillies
    • 2 dried chillies, soaked in hot water
    • 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder
    • 1 teaspoon of coriander seeds
  • For the sweet soy sauce:
    • 2 tablespoons of sweet soy sauce
    • 1 small red chilli, sliced
    • 1 small shallot, sliced

Steps and instructions

  1. First, prepare the lontong. Cook the instant lontong according to the instructions on the package. Once it's done, cut it into small pieces and set aside.
  2. To prepare the spice paste, blend the shallots, garlic, red chillies, dried chillies, turmeric powder, and coriander seeds in a food processor until it forms a smooth paste.
  3. In a large pan, add a little bit of cooking oil. Once it's heated, add the spice paste, bay leaves, and bruised lemongrass. Stir and cook until it becomes fragrant.
  4. Add in the chayote and long beans, followed by the coconut milk. Stir well and let it simmer until the vegetables are tender.
  5. Add in the salt and sugar. Stir well and taste. Adjust the seasoning if necessary.
  6. While the vegetables are cooking, prepare the sweet soy sauce. In a small bowl, mix together the sweet soy sauce, sliced chilli, and sliced shallot.
  7. Now, to serve. In a bowl, add a few pieces of lontong. Ladle the vegetable soup over the lontong, making sure it's covered. Add a hard-boiled egg on top. Drizzle the sweet soy sauce over the top.
  8. Your Lontong Sayur is now ready to be enjoyed!

Tools for making

Recipe variations

  • Vegetarian/Vegan Variation: Omit the eggs and replace the meat with tofu or tempeh for added protein.
  • Chicken Variation: Add cooked and shredded chicken to the soup for a heartier version.
  • Seafood Variation: Add shrimp, fish, or squid to the soup for a seafood twist.
  • Spicy Variation: Increase the amount of red chillies or add a hot chili sauce to make it spicier.
  • Vegetable Variation: Customize the vegetables based on personal preference. You can add carrots, cabbage, or spinach.
  • Extra Garnish Variation: Top the lontong with fried shallots, sliced cucumber, or chopped herbs like cilantro or basil for added flavor and texture.
  • Coconut Milk Alternative: Replace the coconut milk with unsweetened almond milk or soy milk for a lighter version.
  • Gluten-Free Variation: Use gluten-free rice cakes or substitute the rice cakes with quinoa for a gluten-free option.

Recipe overview

Lontong Sayur is a popular Indonesian dish that consists of a flavorful vegetable curry served over rice cakes, typically accompanied by a hard-boiled egg and drizzled with a sweet soy sauce. This delightful dish is a wonderful blend of textures and flavors, making it a satisfyingly hearty meal. The curry is made from a blend of spices, coconut milk, and mixed vegetables, giving it a rich and creamy texture. The rice cakes, or lontong, provide a unique chewy contrast. This recipe is straightforward and easy to follow, making it perfect for anyone wanting to try their hand at Indonesian cuisine. Expect a delicious, fragrant and filling meal that's perfect for any time of the day!

Common questions

  1. Can I use fresh lontong instead of instant lontong? Yes, you can use fresh lontong instead of instant lontong. However, the cooking time and method may vary. Fresh lontong needs to be wrapped in banana leaves or plastic wrap and steamed until cooked through before cutting into small pieces.
  2. Can I use other vegetables? Yes, you can use other vegetables of your choice in this recipe. Popular options include cabbage, carrots, bean sprouts, and spinach. Adjust the cooking time accordingly based on the vegetables you choose.
  3. What can I substitute for chayote? If you can't find chayote, you can substitute it with zucchini or green papaya. These vegetables have a similar texture and will work well in the recipe.
  4. How spicy is this dish? The level of spiciness can be adjusted to your preference by adding more or fewer chillies in the spice paste. If you prefer a milder version, you can reduce the amount of red chillies or remove the dried chillies altogether.
  5. Can I make this dish ahead of time? Yes, you can make the vegetable soup ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, reheat the soup and cook the lontong separately. Assemble the dish by ladling the hot soup over the lontong and adding the toppings.

Serving dishes and utensils

  • Large pan - A large pan is needed to cook the vegetable soup.
  • Food processor - A food processor is useful for blending the spice paste.
  • Cooking oil - Cooking oil is needed for frying the spice paste.
  • Bowl - A bowl is used to serve the Lontong Sayur.
  • Ladle - A ladle is used to scoop and pour the vegetable soup over the lontong.

Origin stories

Lontong Sayur is a beloved breakfast staple in many parts of Indonesia, and its popularity has spread throughout South-East Asia. The dish is an artful combination of modest ingredients, like rice cake and vegetables, brought to life with a rainbow of spices and coconut milk. The making of the dish is as fascinating as its taste. Traditional lontong, or rice cake, is made by packing rice into a banana leaf cylinder and boiling it. As it cooks, the rice expands to fill the leaf, creating its characteristic shape. This humble rice cake is then paired with sayur, a rich vegetable curry, to become the comforting and hearty meal that is Lontong Sayur. It's a testament to the Indonesian tradition of celebrating simplicity, yet not compromising on flavor, a delicate balance that has tantalized palates for generations.

Disclaimer: This recipe was not created by humans and we cannot ensure that it will turn out as expected. We do not guarantee or take any liability for the accuracy of this recipe (including steps, ingredients, nutritional information, and all sections on this page). You should check to make sure you are not allergic to any ingredients and take safety precautions while making this. The images on this page are generated by AI and may not accurately represent the result of making this recipe.