Burasa facts for kids
Burasa, served with serundeng
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| Alternative names | Buras, burasa', burasak |
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| Type | Dumpling |
| Place of origin | Indonesia |
| Region or state | South Sulawesi |
| Associated national cuisine | Indonesia, and Malaysia |
| Main ingredients | Rice, coconut milk, serundeng |
Burasa is a special Indonesian rice dish. It's like a dumpling made from rice. What makes it special is that it's cooked with rich coconut milk. Then, it's carefully wrapped inside a banana leaf pouch.
Burasa is a bit like another Indonesian dish called lontong. But burasa has a stronger, creamier taste because of the coconut milk. It's a very popular food for the Bugis and Makassar people. These groups live in a part of Indonesia called South Sulawesi.
This tasty dish is also well-known in Malaysia. Many Bugis people live there, especially in states like Johor, Selangor, Sabah, and Sarawak.
What is Burasa?
Burasa is often eaten instead of regular steamed rice or ketupat. It's a great side dish for rich meals. For example, it goes well with chicken cooked with galangal. This dish is called ayam masak lengkuas in Malay. In the Buginese language, it's known as likku or lekku.
How is Burasa Made?
Making burasa takes a few steps. First, the rice is steamed until it's partly cooked. Next, the rice is cooked more in coconut milk. This milk is mixed with daun salam (which is an Indonesian bay leaf) and salt. The rice soaks up all the coconut milk.
After that, the half-cooked rice is wrapped in banana leaves. The leaves are shaped like cylinders or small pillows. They are tied securely with strings, often made from banana leaf fibers. Usually, two burasa cylinders are tied together as one package. Finally, these rice packages are steamed again until they are fully cooked and soft.
How Do People Eat Burasa?
In Indonesia, burasa can be a snack. People often eat it with serundeng, which is spiced, dried coconut. It can also be served with a hard-boiled egg or sambal kacang. Sambal kacang is a spicy peanut sauce.
For the Bugis and Makassar people, burasa often replaces regular rice. They eat it with traditional main dishes. Some popular dishes include coto Makassar, konro, pallubasa, or lekku.
Burasa was also a common food for travelers. Bugis and Makassar people would often take burasa with them. It was a good food supply for long trips or sailing journeys.
