Nasi gandul facts for kids
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| Alternative names | Sega gandul |
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| Place of origin | Indonesia |
| Region or state | Pati, Central Java |
Nasi gandul is a delicious rice dish from Pati Regency, Central Java, Indonesia. In the Javanese language, it's called sega gandhul. This special meal features steamed rice served with a rich, sweet, savory, and spicy beef soup. The soup has a lovely golden-brown color. Nasi gandul is a bit like other famous Indonesian dishes such as beef semur, tongseng, and Javanese gulai.
Where the Name Comes From
The word gandul means "hanging" in the Javanese language. This name came from how the food was sold a long time ago. Traveling sellers used a special balancing pole called a pikulan. They would hang the rice and other ingredients from this pole. That's why it was called "hanging rice." Today, most nasi gandul sellers have small shops called warung instead of traveling.
What's Inside Nasi Gandul?
Nasi gandul uses slices of beef. Sometimes, parts like beef offal (internal organs) are also added. These are cooked in a spicy and savory soup. The soup is made with coconut milk.
The Special Spices
The soup gets its amazing taste from a mix of spices. These include garlic, shallot, chili pepper, candlenut, ginger, palm sugar, and cinnamon.
How It's Served
Serving nasi gandul is quite unique! The dish is usually placed on a banana leaf sheet on a plate. Before you eat, crispy bawang goreng (fried shallot) or bawang putih goreng (fried garlic) are sprinkled on top. Traditionally, people don't use a spoon to eat it. Instead, they use a suru, which is a spoon made from a banana leaf.
