Lodeh

"Lodeh" is a traditional Indonesian dish, popular in various regions of the country. It's a type of vegetable stew cooked in coconut milk and seasoned with spices such as garlic, shallots, ginger, turmeric, and chili peppers. The specific vegetables used can vary, but common ones include long beans, chayote, cabbage, tofu, and tempeh. Sometimes, meat or seafood may also be added.

The dish is known for its rich and creamy coconut milk base, which imparts a slightly sweet flavor to the vegetables and absorbs the spices, resulting in a fragrant and flavorful stew. Lodeh is often served with rice and can be enjoyed as a main dish or as a side dish alongside other Indonesian specialties. It's a comforting and hearty dish that showcases the diverse flavors of Indonesian cuisine.

6-8 portions

Ingredients:

(Feel free to swap and change the vegetables, for example I added sweet corn in my version)

Cooking Instructions:

1. Prepare the spice paste ingredients, then use a bullet blender with some oil to blend into a paste (it is important the mixture is completely smooth). Boil a full kettle on the side.
2. Get a large pot with a lid and heat, add vegetable oil, then add the spice paste, shrimp paste, and bay leaves and fry till fragrant.
3. Once fragrant add the vegetable ingredients and pour the kettle of water and add the remainder of the ingredients except for the coconut milk, bring to the boil.
4. Once boiled lower temperature and mix the coconut milk in, leave to simmer on medium low heat until fully cooked.