Rendang

Rendang is a spicy meat dish which originated from the Minangkabau ethnic group of Indonesia, and is now commonly served across the country. One of the characteristic foods of Minangkabau culture, it is served at ceremonial occasions and to honour guests. Rendang is also commonly served among the Malay community in Malaysia, and is also popular in Singapore, Brunei, the southern Philippines and southern Thailand. Rendang is traditionally prepared by the Indonesian and Malaysian community during festive occasions such as traditional ceremonies, wedding feasts, and Hari Raya (Eid al-Fitr). Culinary experts often describe rendang as: 'West Sumatran caramelized beef curry'. In 2011 an online poll by 35,000 people held by CNN International chose Rendang as the number one dish of their 'World’s 50 Most Delicious Foods (Readers' Pick)' list.

The cooking technique flourished because of its role in preserving meat in a tropical climate. Rendang is rich in spices. Along with the main meat ingredient, rendang uses coconut milk (Minangkabau: karambia) and a paste of mixed ground spices, which includes ginger, galangal, turmeric leaves, lemon grass, garlic, shallot, chillies and other spices. This spice mixture is called pemasak in Minangkabau. The spices, garlic, shallot, ginger and galangal used in rendang have antimicrobial properties and serve as natural organic preservatives. If cooked properly, dry rendang can last for as long as four weeks.

Traditional Padang rendang takes hours to cook. Cooking rendang involves pounding and grinding ingredients as well as slow cooking, and so is time-consuming and requires patience. The meat pieces are slowly cooked in coconut milk and spices until almost all the liquid is gone, allowing the meat to absorb the condiments. The cooking process changes from boiling to frying as the liquid evaporates. The slow cooking process allows the meat to absorb all the spices and to become tender. To cook the meat until tender, with almost all liquids evaporated, requires great care, if the meat is not to burn or be spoiled. Because of its generous use of numerous spices, rendang is known for having a complex and unique taste.

Rendang is often served with steamed rice, ketupat (a compressed rice cake), or lemang (glutinous rice barbecued in bamboo tubes), accompanied with vegetable side dishes such as boiled cassava leaf, cubadak (young jackfruit gulai), cabbage gulai, and lado (red or green chilli pepper sambal).

Rendang is revered in Minangkabau culture as an embodiment of the philosophy of musyawarah, discussion and consultation with elders. It has been claimed that the four main ingredients represent Minangkabau society as a whole:

1. The meat (dagiang) symbolizes the Niniak Mamak, the traditional clan leaders, such as the datuk, the nobles, royalty and revered elders.
2. The coconut milk (karambia) symbolizes the Cadiak Pandai, intellectuals, teachers, poets and writers.
3. The chili (lado) symbolizes the Alim Ulama, clerics, ulama and religious leaders. The hotness of the chili symbolizes sharia.
4. The spice mixture (pemasak) symbolizes the rest of Minangkabau society.

In Minangkabau tradition, rendang is a requisite dish for special occasions in traditional Minang ceremonies, from birth ceremonies to circumcision, marriage, Qur'an recitals, religious festivals such as Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha, and is served to honor special guests.

Rendang originates from the Sumatran Minangkabau region. One of the earliest written records of rendang is from the early 16th century Hikayat Amir Hamzah. The making of rendang spreads from Minangkabau region to Mandailing, Riau, Jambi, across the strait to Malacca and Negeri Sembilan, resulting in a variety of rendang traditions.

The popularity of rendang has spread widely from its original domain because of the merantau (migrating) culture of Minangkabau people. Overseas Minangkabau leave their hometown to start a career in other Indonesian cities as well as neighboring countries,

and Padang restaurants, Minangkabau eating establishments that are ubiquitous in Indonesian cities, spring up. These Padang restaurants have introduced and popularized rendang and other Padang food dishes across Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and the wider world.

Andalas University historian, Prof. Gusti Asnan suggests that rendang began to spread across the region when Minangkabau merchants and migrant workers began to trade and migrate to Malacca in the 16th century. “Because the journey through the river waterways in Sumatra took much time, a durable preserved dry rendang is suitable for long journey.” The dried Padang rendang is a durable food, good to consume for weeks, even when left at room temperature.

Rendang is made from beef (or occasionally beef liver, chicken, mutton, water buffalo, duck, or vegetables like jackfruit or cassava). Chicken or duck rendang also contains tamarind and is usually not cooked for as long as beef rendang.

The original Indonesian-Minangkabau rendang has two categories, Rendang Darek and Rendang Pesisir. Rendang Darek (Land Rendang) is an umbrella term for dishes from the old regions in mountainous areas of Minangkabau such as Batusangkar, Agam, Lima Puluh Kota, Payakumbuh, Padang Panjang, Bukittinggi. It mainly consists of beef, offal, poultry products, jackfruit, and many other vegetables and animal products which are found in these places. The second category is Rendang Pesisir (Coastal Rendang) from the coastal regions of Minangkabau such as Pariaman, Padang, Painan, and Pasaman. Rendang Pesisir mainly consists of seafood, although it isn't unusual for them to incorporate beef or water buffalo meat in their Rendang.

Indonesian Rendang variations:

1. Rendang daging: meat rendang. The most common rendang is made from beef, but may also be from water buffalo, goat,mutton or lamb, specialty of Minangkabau
2. Rendang ayam: chicken rendang, specialty of Minangkabau
3. Rendang belut: eel rendang, specialty of Minangkabau
4. Rendang cubadak: jackfruit rendang, specialty of Payakumbuh
5. Rendang hati: cattle liver rendang, specialty of Minangkabau
6. Rendang itiak or Rendang bebek: duck rendang, specialty of Bukittinggi
7. Rendang jo kantang: beef rendang with baby potatoes, specialty of Kapau
8. Rendang lokan: marsh clam rendang, specialty of coastal regions of Minangkabau (e.g. Pariaman, Painan, and Pesisir Selatan)
9. Rendang tahu: tofu rendang, specialty of Minangkabau
10. Rendang talua or Rendang telur: eggs rendang, specialty of Payakumbuh
11. Rendang tempe: tempe rendang, specialty of Minangkabau
12. Rendang tongkol: mackerel tuna rendang, specialty of coastal regions of Minangkabau
13. Rendang paru: cattle lung rendang, specialty of Payakumbuh
14. Rendang suir: shredded beef/poultry meat rendang, specialty of Payakumbuh