Padang cuisine: Difference between revisions

<languages />

<translate>

{{Short description|Cuisine of the Minangkabau people of Indonesia}}

[[File:Nasi Kapau.JPG|thumb|260px|An array of ''[[nasi kapau]]'' dishes, Minangkabau Bukittinggi cuisine.]]

{{Cuisine of Indonesia}}

'''Padang cuisine''' or '''Minangkabau cuisine''' is the cuisine of the [[Minangkabau people]] of [[West Sumatra]], [[Indonesia]]. It is among the most popular cuisines in [[Maritime Southeast Asia]]. It is known across Indonesia as ''masakan Padang'' after [[Padang]], the capital city of [[West Sumatra|Western Sumatra]] province. It is served in restaurants mostly owned by ''perantauan'' (migrating) Minangkabau people in Indonesian cities. Padang food is ubiquitous in Indonesian cities and is popular in neighboring [[Malaysia]], [[Philippines]], [[Brunei]], and [[Singapore]].  

Padang food is famous for its use of [[coconut milk]] and spicy chili. Minang cuisine consists of three main elements: ''[[gulai]]'' (curry), ''lado'' ([[chili pepper]]) and ''bareh'' ([[rice]]). Among the cooking traditions in [[Indonesian cuisine]], Minangkabau cuisine and most of [[Sumatra]]n cuisine are influenced by [[Indian cuisine|Indian]] and [[Middle eastern cuisine|Middle Eastern]] cuisine, with dishes cooked in [[curry]] sauce with coconut milk and a wide variety of spice mixes.

[[File:Waiter at a Padang restaurant.jpg|thumb|right|Padang restaurant waiters are known for their exceptional skill of carrying multiple plates in their hands when serving the ''hidang'' style.]]

Because most Minangkabau people are [[Muslim]]s, Minangkabau cuisine follows [[halal]] dietary law rigorously. Most of its protein is taken from beef, chicken, water buffalo, goat, lamb, [[Lamb and mutton|mutton]], poultry and fish. Minangkabau people are known for their fondness of cattle meat products including [[offal]]. Almost all the parts of cattle are used in Minangkabau dishes. Seafood is popular in coastal West Sumatran cities, and most are grilled or fried with spicy chili sauce or in curry gravy. Fish, shrimp, and cuttlefish are cooked in similar fashion. Most Minangkabau food is eaten with hot steamed rice or compressed rice such as ''katupek'' ([[ketupat]]). Vegetables are mostly boiled, such as boiled [[cassava]] leaf, or simmered in thin curry as side dishes, such as [[gulai]] of young [[jackfruit]] or cabbage.

==Etymology==

In popular usage prevalent in Indonesia and neighboring countries, the term "Padang food" is often used generally to refer to the culinary traditions of the Minangkabau people of Western Sumatra. However, this term is seldom used in Minangkabau inland cities itself, such as [[Bukittinggi]], a culinary hotspot in West Sumatra, where they refer to it as "Minang cuisine" or "Minang food" instead. This is partly because many Minangkabau ''nagari'' (counties) take pride in their culinary legacies, and because there are differences between [[Nasi Padang|Padang rice]] of Padang and [[Nasi kapau|''kapau'' rice]] of Bukittinggi.

==Padang restaurants==

In Padang food establishments, it is common to eat with one's hands. They usually provide ''kobokan'', a bowl of tap water with a slice of [[lime (fruit)|lime]] in it to give a fresh scent. This water is used to wash one's hands before and after eating. If a customer does not want to eat with bare hands, it is acceptable to ask for a [[spoon]] and [[fork]].

The food is usually cooked once per day. When eating ''nasi Padang'' (Padang rice) in restaurants, customers choose from various dishes which are left on display in high-stacked plates in the windows. In a dine-in ''hidang'' style Padang restaurant, after the customers are seated, they do not have to order. Rather, the waiter sets the table with dozens of small dishes filled with various dishes. Customers take only what they want from this array, and they pay only for what they take. The best known Padang dish is [[rendang]], a spicy meat stew. ''[[Soto Padang]]'' (crispy beef in spicy soup) is commonly eaten for breakfast, while ''sate'' (beef [[satay]] in [[curry]] sauce served with [[ketupat]]) is served in the evening.

The serving style is different in ''nasi kapau'' food stalls, a Minangkabau [[Bukittinggi]] style. After the customer is seated, he or she orders specific dishes, which will be put directly upon the steamed rice or in separate small plates.

There are many Padang food establishments throughout Indonesia and surrounding countries, according to ''Ikatan Warung Padang Indonesia'' (Iwapin) or Warung Padang Bonds. In greater [[Jakarta]] alone there are at least 20,000 Padang restaurant establishments. Several notable Minangkabau [[restaurant chain]]s are [[Restoran Sederhana|Sederhana]], Garuda, Pagi Sore, Simpang Raya, Sari Ratu, Sari Bundo, Payakumbuah and Natrabu.

<gallery class="center" mode="packed" caption="Padang cuisine">

File:Minangkabau dishes in Gandoriah beach.JPG|Padang cuisine served in a beach stall in Gandoriah Beach, [[Pariaman]]. Dishes in coastal areas of West Sumatra are mostly sea produce, such as fishes and [[Shrimp and prawn as food|prawns]].

</gallery>

==List of Padang foods==

{{Imageright|

}}}}

===Dishes===

The cooking method of ''[[gulai]]'', which employing certain ingredients; meat, poultry, vegetables, fish or seafood simmered and slowly cooked in [[coconut milk]], [[Bumbu (seasoning)|spice mixture]] and [[chili pepper]], formed the backbone of Minangkabau cooking tradition. The thick golden, yellowish, succulent and spicy ''gulai'' sauce has become the hallmark of Padang restaurants' window displays everywhere. In Padang, smart cooking means the capability of preparing ''gulai''. ''Randang'' (beef simmered in coconut milk and spices), ''asam padeh'' (sour and spicy stew) and ''kalio'' (watery and light-colored gravy) are just a few variations of Padang ''gulai''.

* '''[[Asam Pedas|Asam padeh]]''', sour and spicy fish stew dish.

* '''[[Ayam bakar]]''', grilled spicy chicken.

* '''[[Udang balado]]''', [[Shrimp and prawn as food|shrimp]] in chili.

===Snacks and desserts===

[[File:Minang snacks.JPG|right|thumb|A plate of Minangese snacks, usually served in weddings or family gatherings.]]

* '''[[Wajik]]''', diamond-shaped compressed sweet glutinous rice cake.

===Beverages===

[[File:Ampiang dadiah.jpg|thumb|upright|Es ampiang [[dadiah]], Minang yogurt served with shaved ice and palm sugar.]]  

* '''[[Teh tarik]]''', hot milk tea beverage.

==In popular culture==

* A task of [[The Amazing Race 21]] requires a team member to balance several plates of ''hidang''-style dishes to be delivered to a table of customers of a Padang restaurant in Surabaya.

* Indonesian film ''Tabula Rasa'' (2014), describes a [[Minangkabau people|Minang]] family which run a ''Rumah Makan Padang'' (Padang food restaurant) that hires an aspiring [[Indigenous people of New Guinea|Papuan]] football player who struggles in Jakarta as their cook.

==See also==

{{Portal|Food|Drink|Indonesia}}

* [[Sri Owen]], the primary interpreter of Indonesian cuisine to the English-speaking world, was born at the heart of Minangkabau culture

{{Minangkabau}}

{{Indonesian cuisine}}

{{cuisines}}

[[Category:Indonesian cuisine-related lists]]

[[Category:Padang cuisine| ]]

{{二次利用|date=20 April 2025, at 09:45}}

</translate>