Have you ever wondered which herbs and spices give Balinese and other Indonesian cuisines that exquisite, beyond ordinary taste? Well, you might know some of the popular herbs given the condition that you’ve been to a Bali farm cooking school. However, if you haven’t, this blog will give you a brief idea. We today have compiled a list of some of the herbs that give Balinese dishes that special flavor and aroma. Have a read –
Herbs That Give Balinese Dishes a Distinguished Taste
- Balinese Garam Masala (Base Wangen)- Base Wangen consist of 8 different seeds, those are; coriander seed, black peppercorn, white peppercorn, cloves, candle nut, nutmeg, cumin, sesame seed.
- Kaffir lime leaves (daun jeruk purut)- All lemon grass based dishes, including Rawon, Rendang, Sato etc., as well as some coconut milk based recipes use kaffir lime leaves. You can learn to harvest these on your own in a Bali farm cooking school in Ubud.
- Aromatic ginger/Kaemferia Galanga (kencur)- Kencur, which is also known as white ginger, cutcherry, resurrection lily, sand ginger and aromatic ginger is a flavor-rich herb used in gado-gado and also Balinese Basic Spice Paste (Base Gede or Base Genep).
- Lemon Grass (Sereh), Lemongrass is widely used as a culinary herb in Asian cuisines (mostly fresh), It has a subtle citrus flavor and It is commonly used in teas, soups, and curries. It is also suitable for use with poultry, fish, beef, and seafood.
- Galanga Root / Alpinia Galanga (Isen / Lengkuas)- Lengkuas are root within ginger family. The robust rhizome has a sharp, sweet taste and smells like a blend of black pepper and pine needles. These aren’t used as a solo herb but grounded together with aromatic ginger, regular ginger, turmeric, garlic, chilies, shallots, and shrimp paste to give Balinese and Indonesian cuisine a lip-smacking taste.
- Salam Leaves (Daun Salam), with common names Indian bay leaf and Indonesian bay leaf, this is traditionally used as a food flavouring
If you want to know more about such special herbs and spices that make Balinese cuisine special, you can enroll for a program in Balinese Farm Cooking School. This cooking class in Ubud offers a real village community experience where you can learn to cook Balinese dishes and harvest your own spices. For more details, check Balifarmcooking.com right now.
